A teenager caught with indecent photos of children has avoided jail after a judge said it would expose him to bullying from other criminals. 

Judge Andrew Shaw said he believed Jayden Forster, now aged 19, had been struggling with his sexuality at the time of the offences . 

Norwich Crown Court was told he had been arrested in February 2023 after police found images on his iPhone after receiving intelligence and tracing an IP address to his home at Pedlars Drove in Swaffham. 

Forster previously pleaded guilty to four Category A indecent images of a child – the most serious. He also had three Category B images, as well as one Category C photo.

Danielle O’Donovan, prosecuting, told the court 19 images were actually of himself taken before he was aged 18. A search of his phone also discovered chats with an older man. 

Judge Shaw sentenced him to a two-year community order to complete 30 rehabilitation days and mental health treatment. 

“No punishable element is necessary,” he said. “I take the view that it would be more harmful and would potentially expose you to bullying from more experienced criminals.”