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| Eric Joyce: Ex-Labour MP sentenced for child sex offence | Eric Joyce: Ex-Labour MP sentenced for child sex offence |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| A former Labour MP and ex-Army officer who admitted making an indecent image of a child has been sentenced. | A former Labour MP and ex-Army officer who admitted making an indecent image of a child has been sentenced. |
| Eric Joyce had a 51-second film on a device that showed "the sexual abuse of very young children", Ipswich Crown Court heard. | |
| The former shadow minister and ex-MP for Falkirk was arrested in 2018. | The former shadow minister and ex-MP for Falkirk was arrested in 2018. |
| Joyce, 59, of Worlingworth, Suffolk, was sentenced to eight months in prison suspended for two years, and must complete 150 hours of unpaid work. | Joyce, 59, of Worlingworth, Suffolk, was sentenced to eight months in prison suspended for two years, and must complete 150 hours of unpaid work. |
| The court heard the category A film - the most serious there is - was accessed by Joyce between August 2013 and November 2018. | The court heard the category A film - the most serious there is - was accessed by Joyce between August 2013 and November 2018. |
| It featured what appeared to be seven different children, aged between 12 months and seven years. | It featured what appeared to be seven different children, aged between 12 months and seven years. |
| Judge Mr Justice Edis said: "That these acts of abuse happened is because there are people like you who want to watch these films. | Judge Mr Justice Edis said: "That these acts of abuse happened is because there are people like you who want to watch these films. |
| "If there was no market, those children wouldn't be subjected to these very serious offences." | "If there was no market, those children wouldn't be subjected to these very serious offences." |
| The judge said Joyce had "sought help" and there was evidence he had been able to "reduce, perhaps completely" his "impulsive behaviour". | The judge said Joyce had "sought help" and there was evidence he had been able to "reduce, perhaps completely" his "impulsive behaviour". |
| Joyce served as a Labour MP from 2000 to 2012, before sitting as an independent until 2015. | Joyce served as a Labour MP from 2000 to 2012, before sitting as an independent until 2015. |
| He originally joined the Army in 1977 before serving for 21 years, during which he rose to the rank of major. | He originally joined the Army in 1977 before serving for 21 years, during which he rose to the rank of major. |
| Joyce also received a sexual harm prevention order, was given an 18-day rehabilitation activity requirement and ordered to pay prosecution costs of £1,800. | Joyce also received a sexual harm prevention order, was given an 18-day rehabilitation activity requirement and ordered to pay prosecution costs of £1,800. |