Comedian Tom Binns has received a suspended sentence after being found with more than 35,000 indecent images of children Binns is best known for his hapless DJ character Ivan Brackenbury and fronted the BBC sitcom Hospital People, in which he played multiple characters.
A report in the Mirror says that 104 category A indecent images – the most serious – were found, along with 411 in category B and 34,946 in category C. Lauren Fisher, prosecuting, also said three prohibited images were found, along with “multiple” category B and C moving images. Judge Smith warned that some of the images may have been duplicates. Ms Fisher said all the images were downloaded between March 26 and November 21, 2020.
Fisher added: "Between October 14 and 15, 2020 the National Crime Agency received information that the user of [the defendant’s email] had uploaded multiple category C indecent images of children. During the investigation, it was established that a third party of Mr Binns’s partner had been asked to sell several devices on behalf of Mr Binns. Those devices were also checked.” Matthew Hayes, mitigating, said Binns had not committed any other offences since this incident and referenced the impact of prescribed medication his client was taking at the time.
The judge, Shaun Smith KC, gave him a combined 10-month sentence, suspended for 15 months, made him the subject of a sexual harm prevention order and put him on the sex offender register for 10 years.
Binns previously issued a statement: "Over 2 years ago whilst under the influence of an overdose of prescription drugs for ADHD, which induced obsessive compulsive disorder I downloaded and deleted a large amount of adult pornography over a short period of time. Within those downloads it appears there was some child pornography which I had not sought out nor wanted.
I have no sexual interest in children. I have taken and passed a polygraph stating I have no sexual interest in children. I am bitterly upset at the hurt this has caused my family for which I take full responsibility. I will take my punishment for this and hope that my family are not further harmed by my actions."
Binns has also appeared in 8 Out Of 10 Cats Does Countdown and The IT Crowd. He was also known in the TV industry for his work as a warm-up many for comedy shows.
