Englishman staying in County Donegal hostel pleads guilty to possession of child sexual abuse images

A man who admitted possession child sexual abuse images while staying in a County Donegal hostel has had his case adjourned for sentencing.

Robert Browne (52) of Clifden Road, Berkin Head, Merseyside appeared before Judge John Aylmer at Letterkenny Circuit Court on Tuesday to reaffirm his guilty plea.

He is charged with the possession of child pornography on July 27, 2016 at Apple Hostel, Ramelton Road, Letterkenny, contrary to Section 6 of the Child Trafficking and Pornography Act, 1998.

The charges relate to the possession of five anime images of prepubescent children in nude poses and sex acts.

A further charge relates to the possession of four images depicting naked images of young teenage females.

Defence barrister Shane Costelloe SC explained it was a peculiar case as Browne had been staying in the hostel and an item was left behind and on inspection to find the owner, the item was reported to the Gardaí.

The court heard that Browne has been prosecuted for a related matter in the United Kingdom, and had received a non custodial sentence.

Mr Costelloe said due to the quantity and nature of the images, he believed the offences to be at the lower end of the scale, and he had travelled to Letterkenny to affirm his guilty plea.

He added that Browne had entered an early guilty plea, and suggested that a probation report would be appropriate in this case.

A pre-sentence report was ordered, and the case was adjourned for sentencing until the June sitting of the Circuit Court.

Get ahead of the day with the morning headlines at 7.30am and Fionnán Sheahan’s exclusive take on the day’s news every afternoon, with our free daily newsletter.