Law student suspended for downloading indecent images of children

George Smalov, 18, was arrested after he uploaded a picture of a child on to an internet forum used by Nintendo fans. When police went to his student accommodation at the university they found 15 images of children including indecent pictures.  He was charged under the Child Protection Act. 

Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court was told Smalov found the images on a site where participants upload photographs of themselves.  The court also heard he was “isolated and sexually inexperienced”.

Smalov admitted possessing 15 indecent images of children and distributing one of the images, and was handed a 12-month community order and ordered to pay £500 costs.

The judge told him: “You have put your career in jeopardy and your relationship with your father under great strain and these are consequences you have to live with." 

After the sentence, a spokesperson for Keele University said: “George Smalov was suspended from the university during the course of the proceedings.  We will now carry out a review to consider what happens next."