Jail let off for child abuse images man at centre of CPS sex doll mix up

Andrew Ward, 42, of Holbury Drove, Holbury, was handed a two-year community order at Portsmouth Crown Court.

Ward, a former Gosport man, admitted 12 charges of making indecent images of children.

As reported, a charge of importing an obscene article '“ an alleged child sex doll '“ was dropped after prosecutors told Ward's defence team he was being prosecuted over a large-breasted doll.

The CPS had charged him over a flat-chested doll seized at Heathrow Airport. A judge stayed the prosecution over the mix-up.

At a sentencing hearing Portsmouth's senior judge Roger Hetherington imposed the community order with 35 days of rehabilitation activities.

Ward must pay £375 costs and sign the sex offenders' register for six years.

Children in the images were as young as eight.