Paedophile 'left memory card containing child porn' on seat in cinema leading to his arrest

Spanish Police have arrested a man on suspicion of possessing child pornography after he allegedly left a memory card containing the images in a cinema.

The accused, 23, was tracked down by officers in Catalonia after he left the MicroSD card at the venue in Castelldefels, 12 miles south west of Barcelona, in early July.

It was found by a cleaner who, upon checking the contents of the card, found that it contained several child pornography videos, police say.

A month-long investigation carried out by the Central Unit of Computer Crimes led to the arrest of the Spanish national on 3 August.

The card also contained personal files that enabled detectives to identify the man and his address in Vilanova i la Geltru, around 16 miles from Castelldefels.

The man has been released from custody pending a trial. Spanish police took the opportunity to remind citizens not to share child pornography on social networks or mobile messaging services, urging anyone to contact police if they see any such images.

A police statement said: "Agents of the Police of the Generalitat-Mossos d'Esquadra of the Criminal Investigation Division assigned to the Central Unit of Computer Crimes arrested a 23-year-old Spanish man living in Vilanova i la Geltru on 3 August. He is accused of possessing child pornography.

"At the beginning of July police began their investigation when they learned that a person cleaning the cinemas in Castelldefels had located a memory card that contained images of child pornography.

"The worker located a MicroSD card which he found to contain several underage pornography video files.

"Investigators confirmed that the card contained four video files with child pornography and found other files and documents that allowed the owner to be identified and located.

"Officers made their move on 3 August at an address in Vilanova i la Geltrú. The detainee was released pending a trial."

The statement added: "Do not share images of child pornography."