Latest Offenders Lincolnshire

Description

A man accused of raping a child multiple times and perverting the court of justice has been found guilty by jurors.

Leon Burton, previously of St Mary’s Crescent in Stow, had denied three charges of rape and one of perverting the course of justice at a five-day trial at Lincoln Crown Court last week.

But the 37-year-old was judged to have committed the offences by jurors on Friday, 16 October.

Burton had already pleaded guilty to one charge of sexual activity with a child and a separate charge of perverting the course of justice.

The charges relate to a single victim and took place in the Stow area, starting in 2025 and into 2026.

Burton is set to be sentenced later this year on 11 December.

The court heard how police divers and dogs were deployed to locate two mobile phones that officers suspected Burton had disposed of.

These phones were never located but one is believed to have been thrown in the water in Stow and the other Burton admitted to destroying himself.

Burton was arrested and subsequently remanded until he appeared before court officials on Monday, 12 October for trial.

DC James Lindsay, who was in charge of the investigation, said:

“Burton abused a child in the most despicable way and did his best to evade justice.

“But thanks to the bravery of the victim at the heart of this case and the tenacity of the teams involved, Burton was arrested and brought before jurors who saw through his lies.

“The safety and wellbeing of children is at the heart of everything we do, and we’ll leave no stone unturned in our investigations to ensure they get the support they need.

“I’d like to thank the victim who has made a real difference and helped expose a predator who will soon be jailed, ensuring no one else will suffer at his hands.

“And I’d also praise the work of everyone involved in this investigation – their determination and professionalism helped get us here.”

Description

A man has been jailed for 12 years after sexually assaulting two girls over several months.

Matthew North, 67-years-old of Pilgrim Avenue in Immingham was found guilty by a jury of four counts of assaulting a girl under 13 by touching and inciting a female under 13 to engage in sexual activity. He appeared at Grimsby Crown Court today (Tuesday, 20 October 2026) and has been sentenced to 12 years behind bars with a further 4 years on licence and handed a sexual harm prevention order.

Our Force Control Room received a call on Wednesday, 8 April 2026 by a woman who states her daughter and her friend had been sexually assaulted by a man called ‘John’ over four months whilst trying to earn pocket money through carrying out jobs in the community such as cleaning and car washing.

The name ‘John’ was later found by detectives to be an alias and was identified as Matthew North.

This started in September 2025 and on multiple occasions he had asked the girls to give him oral sex and touch their body whilst doing so. The girls disclosed they feared North and he would refer to them both as his girlfriend’s whilst trying to put his hand up their tops and trousers. He would then proceed to threaten to come to the girl’s house and that he knows their address and where they go to school. He would tell them he would ‘make their life hell’.

On one occasion in April 2026, North made one of the girls come into his home and refused to let her leave until she eventually managed to run out the house.

North was arrested at his home address on Thursday, 9 April 2026. When interviewed by detectives he denied all allegations, insisting it was the other way round and the girls came on to him.

Leading the investigation Detective Constable Amy O’Dwyer said:

“Matthew North took advantage of two young girls wanting to earn some pocket money by sexually assaulting them.

“He made them fear for their life so that they wouldn’t tell anyone.

“I would like to commend the bravery of both victims and their courage whilst North denied all allegations and made them endure the duration of court proceedings.

“Whilst it does not take away the trauma they’ve suffered, I hope the result seen in court will play some part in helping them move forward with their lives.

“It can be daunting to take the first step in reporting offences of this nature, but through these reports, we are able to gather evidence to build a strong case and ultimately help eradicate this abhorrent behaviour from our communities.”

Description

A man has been sentenced after officers discovered images on his mobile phone following a routine address check.

Shaun McCandless, 62-years-old of The Close in Stallingborough has been sentenced to 12 months behind bars following an appearance at Grimsby Crown Court on Friday, 16 October 2026.

On the evening of Monday, 21 September 2026, officers from our Police Sex Offender Monitoring Team attended the home address of McCandless who was on a sexual offence prevention order. As part of the routine risk assessment check which the team regularly carry out, the mobile phone of McCandless was inspected.

The inspection revealed to officers that his search history and images had been deleted off his device. He was swiftly arrested for the breach of his sexual offence prevention order and remanded into prison.

When interviewed, McCandless admitted to having non-indecent images of young girls on his phone to which he later deleted.

Officer Jim Carlisle from our Mosovo team said:

“Once offenders who have committed sexual offences are released from prison, our work does not stop there.

“I hope this proves that our team will carry out regular checks and those that continue to offend will be held accountable and sent back to prison.

“Thankfully no one came to harm, his phone has been destroyed, and McCandless is back behind bars”

Description

A former solider has been handed an 18-year prison sentence after he was found guilty of 15 sexually offences involving children.

Gareth Evans-Balmforth, of Skegness, was given the sentence at Shrewsbury Crown Court yesterday (Thursday 15 October).

In August 2026 the 52-year-old was found guilty of four counts of gross indecency with a child under 14, four counts of inciting a child under 14 to commit an act of gross indecency, attempted sexual assault, sexual assault of a child, sexual assault, causing a child to watch a sexual act, and three counts of indecent exposure.

The court heard that Evans-Balmforth started his offending while he was a serving army officer and based in Shropshire and Yorkshire. He was then posted abroad, where he continued offended while living on army barracks.

Evans-Balmforth’s offending was reported to West Mercia Police in 2022, and an investigation discovered there were several victims from over more than two decades.

Detective Constable Rhian Jackson, the investigating officer, said:

“I welcome yesterday’s sentence of 18 years’ imprisonment for Evans-Balmforth for these appalling offences.

“I would like to pay tribute to the victims, whose courage and resilience throughout this investigation and court process has been remarkable. By coming forward, they have helped ensure he has been held accountable for his actions.

“Evans-Balmforth abused positions of trust and exploited environments where children should have felt safe and protected. The impact of his offending on the victims cannot be underestimated.

“I hope this sentence provides them with a sense of justice and helps them as they continue to move forward with their lives.”

Evans-Balmforth was also given a lifetime Sexual Harm Prevention Order by the judge during the sentencing hearing. 

Description

A 70-year-old man who attempted to engage in sexual activity with whom he thought was a 12-year-old boy, has been sentenced to eight years behind bars following his appearance at court last Thursday (8 October 2026).

Robin Holmes, of Patrick Street in Grimsby, pleaded guilty to engaging in sexual communications with a child, causing a child to watch a sexual act, possession of indecent images of children, and three counts of breaching a Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO).

In April 2026, detectives from our Police Online Investigation Team (POLIT) received a referral from colleagues in the Yorkshire and Humber Regional Organised Crime Unit stating that communication had commenced between Holmes and who he believed to be a 12-year-old boy, but in fact was a decoy.

Holmes was sending sexual messages to the decoy profile through Snapchat, sending them an indecent image and asking them to send him images in return. This comes after he was released from prison in December 2025 following a recall after breaching a Sexual Harm Prevention Order that was already in place for previous sexual offences.

He was subsequently arrested at his home address where he resides alone. Several mobile phones were seized from the property, including the device used to engage with the decoy, to be forensically examined.

Detective Constable Amy Gee, leading the investigation from POLIT said:

“Holmes is a sickening individual, and I’m pleased he is now behind bars where he is unable to continue his attempts to target vulnerable people.

“At no point during his questioning did he display any remorse or deny the offences that were put to him in breach of his SHPO.

“Whilst this investigation involved a decoy child, I hope the sentence sends a clear message to anyone attempting to commit these types of offences, that it is never acceptable to prey on the vulnerable and we will bring you to justice for your crimes.

“I would urge anyone who has information or concerns about this kind of offending to report it by calling 101. We will always listen and support in any way we can.”

Description

A man who raped two children and committed a string of other offences has been jailed for 11 years.

William Clay, formerly of Grantham, appeared at Lincoln Magistrates’ Court on Friday, 25 September for sentencing after he was convicted following an earlier nine-day trial.

The 20-year-old denied the rape of one victim but was found guilty by a jury and pleaded guilty to three counts of rape, one of intentional strangulation and two of ABH on his second victim.

The offences took place in Lincolnshire between 2024 and 2026, with both victims being under the age of 16 when the abuse began.

Clay also pleaded guilty to possession of indecent images and extreme pornography.

He was sentenced to 16 years – 11 in jail, five on licence – handed a sexual harm prevention order for 16 years, added to the sex register and given a restraining order for life.

Detective Constable Karolina Pelka praised the victims at the heart of the investigation and thanked those who helped bring Clay to justice.

She said:

“Both victims showed real resilience and bravery throughout a long trial.

“We commend both victims for their courage and strength in coming forward and supporting this investigation.

“Their bravery through what has undoubtedly been a difficult process is recognised and greatly appreciated.  Without them, Clay would still be on the streets.

She added: “This was a joint investigation between PVP and CID which brought the results of getting suspect remanded and charged all the way to the trial process.

“I would like to thank the officers involved for their professionalism, dedication and commitment.

“Their through and diligent work has played an important role in bringing this case to the conclusion.”

Description

The court had heard how the teen was walking home through Boston town centre at around 9.15pm on Monday 16 March 2025 when she had a sense that someone was following behind her.

After following her some distance, Savage caught up with the teen and struck up a conversation. He then demanded she handed over her phone stating that there was purportedly something he needed to access on her device. Her phone battery had died, and so he insisted he needed to take her to use a charger ‘at his place’.

The victim felt something sharp against her waist as he was demanding the phone, which she feared might have been a knife. He walked the young girl around the town against her will, towards the church and the former B&M shop. He then walked her towards The Range and gave her a can of beer.

The girl was perceptive enough to pay attention to the route taken and remember it which later proved invaluable. She then described being taken into a property where she was forcibly made to engage in oral sex with the predator, which he recorded on his mobile phone. He then walked the girl back to the part of town where he had accosted her, but he had kept her mobile phone back at his residence.

The incident was reported to police at just after midnight on 17 March. Thanks to the level of information provided by the astute young girl, and diligent digital investigative work to identify the location of the girl’s phone, Savage was swiftly located and arrested at 1.45am at a property on Marsh Lane, Boston. He was remanded into prison where he has remained until trial.

The officer in charge of this case, DC Charlotte Howitt praised the courage and maturity displayed by the victim. She said: 

“The resilience and bravery displayed by this young victim throughout an incredibly harrowing investigation and court process have been truly remarkable. Her willingness to place her trust in the criminal justice system and her determination to see the case through, despite having to recount details of this traumatic experience on numerous occasions, have been instrumental in securing this outcome. She remained resolute throughout, and she should be incredibly proud of the strength she has shown.

“Together, with the victim’s bravery and the relentless efforts of the officers involved, we have ensured that a dangerous individual has been held accountable for his actions. I hope this outcome gives the victim some measure of closure and demonstrates our commitment to pursuing offenders and supporting victims every step of the way.”

Description

A man has been sentenced today to 15 years in prison with an additional five years on extended licence.

Dalton Lee Hudson appeared at Lincoln Crown* Court today having been found guilty of rape, sexual assault, two incidents of assault by penetration and two incidents of ABH.

Hudson, who is aged 35, of High Street, Lincoln, committed the offences in September 2025, against three female victims.

Detective Constable Henry Scott, of the Protecting Vulnerable People department of Lincolnshire Police said:

“This is a prolific offender and a dangerous predator who has caused devastating harm. I would like to commend the victims in this case for their utter bravery, and their support for this complex investigation. While the result today cannot begin to reverse the trauma they have faced, I hope it can give them some sense of justice having been served.”

Description

A man who raped and sexually assaulted a child on multiple occasions has been jailed for 18 years and six months.

Alex Walster of Gainsborough* had pleaded guilty to 13 charges at an earlier hearing before he appeared at Lincoln Crown Court for sentencing today, Friday, 11 September.

The 38-year-old, who committed the offences across 2023 and 2024 in a village near Lincoln, had tried to avoid sentencing by leaving the country before he was found and arrested in Ireland.

In a personal statement, the victim told Lincolnshire Police the crimes against her had a significant impact on her life and it is something that will affect for years to come.

However, she said she is determined to rebuild her life, be a strong person and not look back at what Walster did to her.

Walster was handed a sexual harm prevention order and a restraining order which prevents any contact with the victim and her family.

DC Victoria Robbie, who led the investigation, said today’s result is a testament to the hard work of those within the force and the strength and composure of the child involved in the case.

“Today’s outcome marks the end of our investigation into Walster’s repulsive offending,” she said.

“We are grateful to, and inspired by, the victim and her family who have so patiently waited and worked alongside us to bring Walster to justice.

“The victim of this case is remarkable, and I believe will go on to live a full and fantastic life with the support of her family, in spite of the abhorrent crimes Walster committed against her.

“Every day we come to work to reclaim the childhoods and lives of victims of these terrible crimes and today we are pleased that Walster’s sentence reflects this.”

Description

A man who sexually assaulted two children on multiple occasions has been jailed for 18 years.

William Lynas of Moons Green in Spalding appeared at Lincoln Crown Court on Thursday, 3 September for sentencing after he was found guilty of 13 sexual offences at an earlier hearing.

The offences involving the 84-year-old took place between the 1980s and 2023 in the Spalding area.

Both of his victims were underage at the time the incidents took place.

Lynas had denied the charges but was found guilty by jurors and will now face a lengthy period behind bars.

He was placed on the sex offenders register for life and also given an indefinite restraining order in relation to both victims.

Lynas will likely spend the rest of his life in prison.

Detective Constable Victoria Oaks, who led the investigation, said Lynas deserved a significant sentence for his actions and praised those who came forward.

She said:

"Lynas caused real harm and will deservedly spend a long time behind bars.

“I want to praise the victims at the heart of this case who bravely came forward to reveal what had happened to them and who was responsible.

“The period of time the crimes took place over, made this investigation complex, but the team did a great job gathering evidence to bring Lynas to justice.

“Lynas thought he was untouchable and attended court confident he could pull the wool over the eyes of the jurors in this case.

“At his trial he hobbled into court with a walking stick – but later left the building walking normally.

“He was caught out when the jurors left the building at the same time and spotted him – this demonstrates Lynas’ arrogance, he thought he could get away with it."

Description

A 62-year-old Grantham man was found guilty of a string of sexual-related offences, including making indecent photographs of a child, when he appeared at Lincoln Crown Court.

Following a three-day trial, which began on Tuesday 25 August, Steven Robins of Fourth Avenue was found guilty of the following offences:

• Two counts of making indecent photographs of a child
• Engaging in sexual activity in the presence of a child under the age of 16
• Two counts of engaging in non-penetrative sexual activity with a child under the age of 16
• Causing the sexual exploitation of a child under the age of 18

Robins was remanded into custody until his next appearance at Lincoln Crown Court in October.

Description

A man who manipulated and raped a teenage girl has been jailed for eight years.

Kato Tsang, 45-years-old, of Bridge Street in Brigg, North Lincolnshire, who identifies himself as Chinese, was found guilty of raping a girl under 16-years-old following a seven-day trial that concluded at Grimsby Crown Court on Tuesday, 28 July 2026.

He was subsequently bailed by the courts to await sentencing which took place yesterday (Tuesday, 25 August 2026), where he was also handed a lifelong Restraining Order and a Sexual Harm Prevention Order valid for 20 years.

An investigation was launched by our Protecting Vulnerable People Unit in May 2022, after a teenager came forward disclosing she had been raped by a man she knew, naming him as Kato Tsang.

Officers were immediately deployed to arrest Tsang and transported him to custody where he was interviewed.

When questioned, Tsang offered a pre-prepared statement claiming he was not responsible and had not committed the offence. After this, he answered no comment to the rest of the questions asked.

Tsang was subsequently conditionally bailed pending further investigation whilst detectives got to work gathering evidence and obtaining a victim impact statement from the teenager.

Following a lengthy and complex investigation, he was then charged in September 2025 with rape of a girl under 16-years-old.

Leading the investigation was Detective Constable Becky McInnis from our Child Sexual Exploitation Team, who said:

“Our investigation uncovered how Tsang would manipulate and ploy the teenager with alcohol and behave in an over-familiar manner towards her, with CCTV enquiries from the day of the incident showing Tsang touching her numerous times and putting his arm around her, invading her personal space.

“He then offered to take her home but not before he took her to a secluded location where he raped her.

“It took a lot of courage for the teenager to tell someone she trusted what had happened to her, before then taking that next brave step and reporting it to the police with the support of her parents. For this, I commend her immensely.

“This has been a complex and lengthy investigation with the woman being forced to sit through the gruelling ordeal of a trial to relive what happened to her as a teenager all over again after Tsang’s refusal to admit what he had done and lack of accountability.

“The events of that night will undoubtedly stay with the woman for the rest of her life, and no amount of justice will erase the physical and mental harm Tsang has inflicted, but I hope knowing he is behind bars for a very long time will bring some kind of relief.

“We take all reports of rape and other sexual offences extremely seriously and continue to seek justice for those who have suffered at the hands of predators like Tsang.”

Description

A former teacher has been jailed for engaging in sexual activity with a teenage boy.

Emily Drury, 26, of Tuplin Road, Mablethorpe, appeared at Lincoln Crown Court today, Friday 21 August, charged with five offences of sexual activity with a teenage boy.

She pleaded guilty to the charge of engaging in non-penetrative sexual activity with a teenage boy, and four charges of engaging in penetrative sexual activity with a teenage boy.

She was sentenced to four years and six months in prison. She must serve at least half of the sentence before being considered for released. She was also given a sexual harm prevention order and a restraining order to last five years,  and was placed on the sex offenders’ register for life*.

The court heard how Drury had engaged in sexual behaviour with the minor on numerous occasions whilst acting as a private tutor between May and June 2025. She had offered to tutor the boy after lower-than-expected mock exam results, to help him pass his GCSE exams.

In a statement read out in court, the victim said:

"She was kind to me. She would say positive things to me, buy me clothes, she would talk to me and made me feel better about myself. I trusted her and confided in her about some very personal things.”

He went on to describe how he felt after the allegations had been made, he said:

“I felt judged. I felt that people blamed me. I felt unable to simply be a child. I worried that people would not take me seriously because I am a boy. I believed there was a stigma attached to being a male victim of sexual abuse, and that fear made it even harder to cope.”

The victim initially had concerns about how his allegation would be perceived because he was a teenage boy, and the offender was an adult woman - in a position of trust and authority. We reassured him that gender is never a factor in how reports of sexual abuse are investigated and that he would be treated with the same care, sensitivity, and support as any other victim. Throughout the investigation, we worked closely with him to help him understand the criminal justice process and ensure he felt supported every step of the way.

The offender prolonged what was already an extremely difficult experience by delaying her guilty plea until the very last opportunity. As a result, the victim spent many months living with uncertainty about the outcome of the case. Despite these challenges, he showed remarkable courage and resilience. His willingness to come forward and remain engaged throughout the investigation has been instrumental in bringing the offender to justice.

The officer leading this case from East Lindsey’s Protecting Vulnerable People Unit, Detective Constable Julie Jode, said:

Drury abused her position of trust and exploited the access she had to a vulnerable young person for her own purposes. As an adult in a position of authority, she was expected to provide guidance, support, and protection. Instead, she used that position to target and manipulate someone who should have been able to trust her implicitly.

Offences of this nature can have a profound and lasting impact on victims, particularly when they involve a significant imbalance of power and an abuse of trust. The victim in this case was forced to navigate an incredibly difficult and challenging period of his life while also facing the uncertainty of a lengthy criminal justice process. The fact that the offender delayed accepting responsibility only added to that ordeal.

Throughout the investigation, the victim showed exceptional courage, dignity, and resilience. He came forward despite concerns about how he might be perceived and remained committed to seeing the process through. His bravery has been instrumental in securing this outcome and ensuring the offender has been held accountable for her despicable actions.

Description

Update: 12 August

A man has been jailed for 14 years after pleading guilty to 13 charges under the Sexual Offences Act, many of which involved children.

Rhys Lynn, 32, of HMP Lincoln, pleaded guilty to the offences which took place between July 2017 and April 2026.

He pleaded guilty to all 13 offences in the face of such robust and compelling evidence.  He appeared at Lincoln Crown Court on Friday 7 August where he was jailed after the judge applied an exceptional extended period of four years to the maximum custodial term of 10 years.

He is also banned from working with children or vulnerable adults and will be required to sign the sex offenders register for life.

The officer in charge of this case, DC Portia Hakes of Lincoln’s Protecting Vulnerable People Unit, said:

We welcome the sentence handed down by the court. This man committed a series of serious sexual offences and has rightly been held accountable for his actions. The extended sentence recognises the ongoing risk he poses and provides additional protection for the public. I hope this outcome gives victims some reassurance that their voices will be heard and their experiences taken seriously.

6 July

A man has pleaded guilty to thirteen charges under the Sexual Offences Act, many of which involved children, during a hearing at Lincoln Crown Court on 19 June.

Rhys Lynn, 32, of HMP Lincoln, pleaded guilty to the following offences which took place between July 2017 and April 2026:

• Make 267 indecent photograph / pseudo-photograph of a child (Class A images)
• Make 102 indecent photograph / pseudo-photograph of a child (Class B images)
• Make 387 indecent photograph / pseudo-photograph of a child (Class C images)
• Possess an extreme pornographic image
• Two counts of causing or inciting a girl under 13 to engage in sexual activity
• Causing a child under 13 to watch or look at an image of sexual activity
• Causing a child under 13 to watch or look at an image of sexual activity
• Two counts of breaching a sexual harm protection order
• Causing or inciting the sexual exploitation of a child aged between 13-17
• Threaten to share a photograph or film of a person in an intimate state
• Send a photograph or film to cause alarm, distress, or humiliation

Lynn has been remanded into custody and will appear at Lincoln Crown Court on 7 August 2026 for sentencing.

The officer in charge of this case, DC Portia Hakes of Lincoln’s Protecting Vulnerable People Unit, said:

“Thanks to the bravery of a child victim coming forward, we were able to secure vital evidence involving numerous vulnerable victims across the UK. Due to this evidence, this dangerous and relentless offender has been remanded into prison awaiting sentencing. We wish to thank vulnerable child victims for having the courage to speak out against individuals like this and help end the suffering to other children across the UK.”

2023-02-23

A sex offender previously jailed for getting girls to send him naked photos is back behind bars after he failed to notify the authorities he was in a new relationship with a partner who had two young children.

Rhys Lynn, 27, was jailed for 16 months after he admitted failing to notify the police of his new partner’s address and breaching his Sexual Harm Prevention Order on four occasions.

Lynn, formerly of Hawthorn Avenue, Cherry Willingham, and now of The Quays, Gainsborough, was sentenced to five years and four months imprisonment at Lincoln Crown Court in February 2019.

In addition to his jail term, Lynn was also given an indefinite Sexual Harm Prevention Order and told to comply with sex offender notification requirements.

Those orders required Lynn to notify the authorities if he began a relationship which put him in possible contact with children or if he was staying at a new address.

Lincoln Crown Court heard Lynn started working at a chicken factory in Gainsborough and began a relationship with a woman who had two young children around a year after he was released from prison.

Caroline Bradley, prosecuting, said Lynn did not disclose his offending to the woman and on occasions would act as a babysitter for the children and stay at their address.

There were also other child visitors to the property, and Lynn also visited a friend who had a teenage daughter, Miss Bradley told the court.

Lynn was arrested after the authorities became aware of the contact.

During interview he admitted failing to disclose his new relationship to his risk offending manager and the Probation Service because he was happy.

Neil Sands, mitigating, said Lynn had been successfully co-operating with the Probation Service for a year after his release from prison before this new relationship began.

Mr Sands told the court Lynn’s best mitigation was his early guilty plea and candour with the police.

Passing sentence Judge Catarina Sjolin Knight made it clear there was no evidence of further sexual offending.

But the Judge told Lynn: “I understand the desire for happiness, but you have a history others do not.”

Lynn’s sentence hearing in 2019 was told he posed as a teenager and also threatened his victims that he would distribute images of them that he had already obtained if they did not send him even more.

That hearing was told the five girls involved, one of whom was only 12, were left badly affected by their contact with Lynn over the internet with a number of them having to undergo counselling.

One later told police that her chances of success in her A levels had been completely wrecked by him.

Lynn had set up accounts on sites such as Instagram and Snapchat using fictitious names claiming he was a teenage boy, his original sentence hearing was told.

Four of the girls sent him naked photographs of themselves and Lynn also sent sexual images of himself to them

Before being sentenced in 2019 Lynn admitted five charges of causing or inciting exploitation of a child, two charges of causing a child to watch a sexual act, a further charge of inciting a child to engage in sexual activity and three charges of making a total of 1,218 indecent images of children.

Description

Leslie Jones, 59, of Haven Road, Barton, has been jailed for two years after admitting further offences involving indecent images of children while subject to a sexual harm prevention order.

Jones admitted breaching a sexual harm prevention order on 16 June, three offences of making indecent images of children, and one of possessing prohibited images of children, between 3 February and 16 June. Prosecuting, Michele Stuart-Lofthouse told Hull Crown Court that police received information about an internet user involved in a file-sharing programme for child sexual abuse. As a registered sex offender under a 10-year order imposed on 28 October, officers attended his home. Asked if he had any devices other than a mobile phone, he replied “No.” A tablet he had tried to “conceal” was found in a bedroom.

It contained 45 Category A videos of young girls (three lengthy), 62 Category B images (60 videos), 1,025 Category C images (including 18 videos), and two prohibited images of children. There was no distribution.

Jones had nine previous convictions, including wounding in 1999, drink-driving, producing drugs and breaching a community order. On 28 October he received a 14-month suspended sentence, 150 hours’ unpaid work and 25 days’ rehabilitation activity, plus the 10-year sexual harm prevention order and sex offender registration, after admitting making indecent images of children, possessing prohibited images and possessing extreme pornography images of bestiality between April 2021 and December 2022.

At that earlier hearing, when he lived in Dundee Street, west Hull, police seized a mobile phone, tablet and laptop on 14 March 2023. They found 813 Category A, 562 Category B and 5,996 Category C indecent images of children (including videos), plus 478 prohibited images and three extreme pornography images. Search terms included “Lolita.” The girls depicted included ages five, six, eight, nine and 11. Jones denied distribution or a sexual interest in children and claimed the material appeared by accident—a claim branded a “lie.” He was told: “Nobody has that many accidents.” Recorder Geraldine Kelly KC said he had “deliberately” searched for and downloaded the images because of an “unnatural, perverted sexual interest in children” and that he “should be ashamed,” describing a “sordid collection.”

Mitigating, Julia Baggs said that after the October appearance Jones lost his job and home, received abuse in the street and became reclusive. He completed all but seven-and-a-half hours of unpaid work and began finding paid employment outside the area. It was “deeply disappointing” he had reoffended. He had been on remand since the new offences came to light and had difficulties settling into prison.

The two-year term includes a consecutive nine months for activating the suspended sentence. His phone and tablet were forfeited and he must remain on the sex offenders register for 10 years.