Spalding rapist Russell Andrew fails to get jail term reduced

A man who raped and assaulted young children and was caught with more than 150,000 child porn images has failed in an appeal against his 17-year jail term.
Russell Andrew (41), of Park Road, Spalding, was jailed after admitting dozens of offences relating to child abuse and Internet pornography at Lincoln Crown Court in July last year.

He appealed against the sentence, but on Wednesday was told by the nation's most senior judge that he was lucky not to have been given a potentially lifelong sentence.

The Lord Chief Justice Lord Judge said: "He has an overwhelming and uncontrollable sexual obsession with small children."

Andrew's offending came to light in 2005 when police searched his home and discovered a huge quantity of child pornography on computer equipment.

After an examination, 152,998 images of child porn were found, depicting horrific abuse of children.

The investigation led to victims of his actual abuse coming forward and telling of the ordeal Andrew put them through when they were as young as four.

His crimes included rape of a boy and a girl.

Dismissing his appeal, Lord Judge, sitting with Mr Justice Owen and Mr Justice Christopher Clarke, said he was surprised that a report prior to sentencing had assessed him as at "medium risk" of re-offending.

Most judges would have considered him such a danger to the public that he should be locked up indefinitely until he is safe to live in the community, he said.

Lord Judge added: "A psychiatric report confirmed that he had a life-long interest in underage children and that this was deeply entrenched."

Although the sentence was "undoubtedly severe", it would be inappropriate to interfere with it, Lord Judge concluded.

Spalding Today