On another forum, I found this, written by the partner of a man, convicted of image offences. It describes one experience, but sounds very different from most of those we hear on this forum.

"He got a suspended sentence and thousands of images in all categories. We're still in a mortgaged house, he still works in the same field, still comfortable financially. We're planning our wedding and life is very much normal! He has horizon twice a week and a 5 minute chat to the probation officer once every 2 weeks (goes into the office once a month on his way to work and the other meeting is a quick telephone call in his break). Other than that, life is no different!"

The two most obvious things to note, are that he didn't lose his job and that his partner stood by him. There is no mention of whether it was reported in the media, but if it was, then seems unlikely that he would still have the same job. But so many of the consequences of these offences, are not the restrictions imposed by the courts, but the 'collateral damage' created by the media and the fallout from that, as well as the reactions of friends and family. It is not a level playing field, in that respect, because the outcomes can be very different, depending on the person's circumstances.