WARNING - DISTRESSING CONTENT: Staff sergeant Jarik Lofthus, 33, was spared jail despite being found with more than 90 child abuse images on his phone involving children as young as four14:30, 07 Jul 2026Updated 14:33, 07 Jul 2026A US Air Force serviceman stationed in Britain was caught with sickening images involving children as young as four - but will avoid jail.Staff sergeant Jarik Lofthus, based at RAF Mildenhall in Suffolk, has pleaded guilty to four counts of possessing and producing pornographic images depicting animals and children.A court heard police found more than 90 child abuse images on Lofthus’ phone, as well as three extreme pornographic images and five videos depicting sexual activity involving animals.Prosecutor Holly Davies told Ipswich Crown Court that investigators had recovered online conversations showing what she described as an "active interest in child abuse content".In one conversation, when asked whether Lofthus, 33, was interested in child abuse material, he replied that he was "interested in everything, all ages including babies". The court heard that, when asked whether the rape of babies turned him on, he responded "yes".The National Crime Agency (NCA) began to investigate after child abuse material was uploaded to the internet between August 2024 and March 2025. An upload was traced to an IP address in the Bury St Edmunds area and officers attended Lofthus' home on July 16, 2025, where they seized a mobile device.Analysis of the device uncovered 42 Category A indecent images and videos of children, 26 Category B images and 23 Category C images as well as the extreme images and videos.Ms Davies told the court one of the Category A videos involved a girl believed to be as young as four.When quizzed by cops over how the images ended up on his phone, Lofthus told interviewers they "must have auto-downloaded".Defending Lofthus, Lisa Bald said her client was experiencing an "incredibly shaming moment" and was fully aware of the seriousness of the offences.She told the court he had served his country in the armed forces and now faced "losing his livelihood and his way of life".The defence said Lofthus needed help rather than punishment, citing alcohol misuse, attendance at Alcoholics Anonymous meetings, suggestions of suicidal thoughts and unresolved trauma from a difficult childhood.Sentencing, His Honour Judge David Wilson described the material as "sickening".Addressing Lofthus directly, he said: "Each of the images that are seen represent crime scenes. You are no innocent bystander. This is far from a victimless crime."However, the judge also noted that Lofthus had previously been of good character and appeared to be "kind and thoughtful and dependable".He concluded that only a custodial sentence could properly reflect the seriousness of the offending, however chose to suspend the sentence on the basis of Lofthus' "realistic prospect of rehabilitation".Article continues belowLofthus was sentenced to a total of eight months' imprisonment, suspended for 24 months, meaning that he will not face prison at this time.Whether Lofthus, who will remain on the sex offenders register for 10 years, will be able to return to his role in the US airforce is yet to be decided.