A ‘PIOUS’ man caught uploading category A indecent images of children on Facebook falsely claimed he shared them out of moral outrage, Bradford Crown Court heard.

Abid Hussain’s life as a religiously observant, decent, hardworking family man was ‘in tatters’ following his arrest for making and distribution of sexual images of children aged between two and 16, his barrister said.

Hussain, 44, pleaded guilty at Bradford and Keighley Magistrates’ Court to three single offences of making an indecent image of a child, at category A, B and C, and a charge of distribution of a category A image.

Prosecutor Paul Canfield said there were a total of eight category A images and three each at categories B and C. The offences took place between January 17 and December 26, 2020.

West Yorkshire Police were alerted that Hussain had distributed the image on Facebook on March 9, 2020.

It was accepted by him that he had distributed a second category A image on July 11 that year, also via Facebook, although that had not been charged.

He was arrested on February 4 last year and his two phones seized.

Mr Canfield said Hussain made no comment when questioned by the police and then stated that he shared the images ‘out of moral outrage.’

He said his Facebook account had been closed down because he had ‘done something wrong.’

His barrister, James Gelsthorpe, told the court: “A good reputation is hard won and easily lost.”

His client was a man of previous good character who had led a hardworking, pious and decent life.

“He has left that life in tatters,” Mr Gelsthorpe stated.

Hussain, a warehouse operative, was living at an address in Fairweather Green, Bradford, but had moved into a bedsit when his offending came to light.

His family was in turmoil because of his actions but his wife and other relatives were in court to support him.

Recorder Simon Jackson KC said Hussain had pleaded guilty to the offences at the first opportunity.

“You have been, until the magistrates’, a hardworking family man and you have now lost that good reputation,” he said.

But it was a small number of images and the two distributions were unsophisticated and gave rise to the obvious risk of being discovered.

Hussain’s early guilty pleas and previous good character meant that he didn’t need to go immediately to jail.

He was sentenced to 20 months’ imprisonment, suspended for two years, with 35 rehabilitation activity requirement days and 150 hours of unpaid work. He must obey a three-month curfew that will be electronically monitored.

Recorder Jackson made a Sexual Harm Prevention Order for ten years and Hussain must sign on as a sex offender, also for ten years.

“You owe a debt to society and a debt to your wife and family. Do not fail them or you are likely to go to prison,” he said.