A postman from Sutton who took and shared an indecent photograph of a six-year-old child has avoided prison. 

Jamie Farley, 44, took a photo of a young child with their pants down then sent it to a person he believed to be a like-minded paedophile. 

But the person he was speaking to online was in fact an undercover police officer. 

When police seized Farley’s devices they found almost 1,000 indecent images of children. 

Farley appeared at Inner London Crown Court on Friday (October 11) after he pleaded guilty to voyeurism and three counts of making indecent images. 

Judge Matthew Boyle sentenced him to 28 weeks in custody but suspended the sentence for two years, meaning Farley walked out of the court a free man.  

Farley, of St James’ Road, is well-known in the local community and has served as a postman based in Putney for 22 years. 

Royal Mail told Newsquest London he had not made them aware of the offences but he has now been suspended. 

A spokesperson said: “Royal Mail always expects the highest standards from its staff and the behaviours reported have no place in our business. We were not informed of the charges and as soon as we were made aware he was suspended pending an internal investigation.” 

Farley pictured leaving Inner London Crown CourtFarley pictured leaving Inner London Crown Court (Image: NQ) Summarising the case against Farley, prosecutor Ivan Clarke said the offences took place in May 2022 during an undercover investigation with the objective of identifying people who pose a risk to children. 

“An officer was effectively pretending to be an adult male who was interested in child images, and entered into at least two conversations with this defendant,” Mr Clarke said. 

Mr Clarke said Farley sent the undercover officer a photo of a partially-clothed child which he had taken himself, doing so for his own sexual gratification. 

In mitigation, Mark Kelly KC said his client is extremely remorseful and has taken steps to address the problem by attending a course with the Lucy Faithfull Foundation and Stop It Now. 

A probation report stated that Farley had become increasingly “obsessed” with internet porn and “started pushing boundaries” during the Covid period. 

Judge Boyle described the offences as “repugnant” and told Farley: “The downloading of images drives the demand for them, and the young people in those images at the end of the chain suffer as a result.” 

Sentencing Farley, Judge Boyle explained: “I have to say when I first read these papers, I thought it was pretty clear that appropriate punishment could only be achieved by immediate custody." 

But the judge said he was heartened by the fact that Farley has taken steps to address his offending since he was caught. 

He added that an experienced probation officer concluded that Farley’s risk could be managed in the community. 

“Therefore, somewhat to my surprise, I am by a hair’s breadth going to suspend the sentence in your case,” Judge Boyle said. 

He ordered that Farley carry out 100 hours of unpaid work and 40 rehabilitation activity days. 

Judge Boyle also made him the subject of a Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO) and he must sign the sex offender’s register for seven years.