Comedian Skirts Jail Time Despite Possession of 35,000 Child Abuse Images

Clear Facts:

• Tom Binns, a TV comedian in the UK, was found with over 35,000 inappropriate images of minors but received a suspended sentence.
• While Binns blamed an overdose of ADHD medication for his actions, the judge noted the seriousness of his crimes and the real victims involved.
• Binns will be under a sexual harm prevention order and registered as a sex offender for the next decade.

A popular UK comedian avoided prison time despite being discovered with more than 35,000 inappropriate images of minors.

Last year, Christopher Thomas Binns admitted to five charges of creating indecent images of children and one count of possessing a prohibited image.

In court in Derby, it was revealed that the 53-year-old had stored thousands of these disturbing images across several devices.

Despite this startling discovery, Judge Shaun Smith issued Binns a suspended sentence, citing no prior convictions for the comedian.

Prosecutor Lauren Fisher detailed the severity of the images: 104 were of the highest level of seriousness (category A), 411 of category B, and a staggering 34,946 of category C. There were also multiple videos of category B and C content.

Ms. Fisher pointed out that all these images were downloaded within an eight-month span in 2020. However, the Judge highlighted that some images might have been duplicates.

Binns, often performing under the stage name Ivan Brackenbury, has been recognized at prominent comedy events and has had roles in popular TV shows including the BBC drama “Spooks” and Channel 4’s “IT Crowd”.

Authorities arrested Binns at his home in Derbyshire, confiscating 39 electronic devices, including popular brands like Apple’s MacBook and iPad.

On these devices, both accessible and inaccessible images were found, with 25,000 being inaccessible category C images.

Fisher further informed that in October 2020, the National Crime Agency was alerted to Binns’s email uploading several category C images.

During their probe, they discovered that a third party, linked to Binns’s partner, had been asked to sell several devices on Binns’s behalf. These devices were subsequently inspected.

Binns’s defense attorney, Matthew Hayes, underscored that Binns hadn’t reoffended since this incident. He also alluded to prescribed medication Binns was on during this time but didn’t detail it further in court.

Earlier, Binns made a statement: “Over two years ago, while under the influence of an overdose of prescription drugs for ADHD, which induced obsessive-compulsive disorder, I downloaded and deleted a vast amount of adult content in a short span. It appears some child content was among those downloads, which I had not intended for. I have no sexual attraction to children. I passed a lie detector test affirming this. I deeply regret the pain I’ve caused my family, and I accept full accountability.”

Judge Smith labeled Binns’s actions as “utterly inappropriate” but believed he wasn’t a threat to society and was unlikely to repeat his actions.

Binns received a 10-month sentence, suspended for 15 months. Additionally, he was subjected to a sexual harm prevention order and will have to register as a sex offender for a decade.

Concluding, Judge Smith stated, “It’s evident you regret your actions, but the reality remains: there are genuine victims in such cases. While certain circumstances brought you to court, you must recognize your prior lawful life was upended by these grave offenses.”

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