A pensioner was arrested after a health nurse attended his home and saw child sexual abuse images on his computer screen.
Donald Randle, aged 70, came to the attention of Nottinghamshire Police in December 2022 when an assistant practitioner visited his Clifton address and saw the horrific content.
Nottingham Crown Court heard Randle allowed the carer into his home to conduct a medical examination and seemingly forgot a video displaying the images was on his computer, which was in the corner of his living room.
After noticing the nurse’s shock, Randle pushed past her and turned the video off before sitting back in his chair and not saying a word.
The nurse completed the health check before leaving the address and contacting the police.
Detectives arrived and seized several electronic devices, including the computer, a laptop and USB drives.
Forensic analysis of the devices revealed hundreds of images showing the sexual abuse of young children.
In total, 87 of the images were graded as Category A – depicting the most serious abuse that can be perpetrated by adults against children.
The devices also contained 212 Category B images and 578 Category C images.
Randle, of Gabor Close, Clifton, denied knowing about the images in police interviews but was ultimately charged with three counts of making indecent photographs of children.
Court proceedings were delayed after Randle was hospitalised with ill health. He entered guilty pleas to all three counts on 24 October 2025.
His sentencing went ahead on Wednesday (4 February), and he was jailed for 18 months, suspended for two years, and made subject to a Sexual Harm Prevention Order for a period of five years, which will strictly limit his online activities and give police officers the power to make regular checks on his behaviour.
He was also added to the sexual offences register for a period of ten years.
Detective Sergeant Claire Grant, of Nottinghamshire Police, said:
“Randle had a very clear sexual interest in children, and his offending was despicable.
“Behind every one of those images are vulnerable children who have been raped and sexually abused by adults.
“Sadly, we know that the physical and emotional scars of this abuse can live with those victims for the rest of their lives, which is why we work so hard to unearth and bring to justice the people who create a demand for such disturbing images.
“Nottinghamshire Police will never tolerate people who download these images and will always take firm action when we are alerted to this kind of material.
“I would like to thank the assistant practitioner who reported this matter to us. She was understandably left very distressed by what she saw, and I hope she can draw some comfort in knowing Randle has now been dealt with by the courts.”
