Reece Elliott

At Truro Crown Court, 24-year-old Reece Elliott from St Erth, Hayle, faced sentencing for possessing a large collection of indecent images of children. Elliott, residing on Church Street, had pleaded guilty to three counts of making indecent photographs of a child. The case came to light after authorities discovered an iPhone in his bedroom containing 502 illegal files, including both still images and moving videos of children aged between five and 14 years old.

The illicit material was categorised under UK legal standards, with 12 category A still images, 225 category A moving images, 52 category B moving images, eight category C still images, and 139 category C moving images. Notably, the moving images included horrific content showing children as young as five being raped, highlighting the severity of the offences. Despite the evidence, Elliott denied any interest in children during the proceedings, a stance that drew sharp rebuke from the judge.

Judge Simon Carr, presiding over the case, addressed Elliott directly, stating, "Someone who downloads moving images of children as young as five being raped has an interest in children." The judge emphasised the need for Elliott to accept responsibility, adding, "Elliott continues to deny responsibility and that he has to accept that he has an interest in children because otherwise he won’t be able to move forward." This sentencing occurred on Tuesday, 14 October 2025, as reported by Cornwall Live.

In delivering the sentence, Judge Carr imposed a total of eight months' imprisonment, suspended for two years. Elliott was also required to undergo 12 sessions of mental health treatment and was made subject to a sexual harm prevention order for five years. Additionally, he will be placed on the sex offenders register, ensuring ongoing monitoring to prevent future harm. The case underscores the ongoing efforts by Devon and Cornwall Police to combat child sexual exploitation through digital forensics and prosecution.