Latest Offenders

Description

A paedophile who downloaded an app to hide his internet search history has been jailed. Basil Al-Mudalal, 68, was caught out by police when they made a surprise visit to his home.

Al-Mudalal is a convicted sex offender who was banned from owning any device which did not retain information about what he had been looking at online. But when police analysed his devices they found pictures and films of children being sexually abused.

The defendant, of Silver Road, Street, was sent back to jail for his latest offences. Taunton Crown Court was told he still poses a risk of reoffending, despite previously completing a sex offender programme.

He admitted three offences of possessing indecent images of children and breaching the terms of his Sexual Harm Prevention Order. Al-Mudalal was jailed for 26 months.

Prosecutor Mr Paul Grumbar said police went to his house on February 22, 2022. Al-Mulalal gave police his phone. On it was an app called 'DuckDuckGo' which does not retain search history. No images were found on the device but downloading the app put him in breach of his SHPO.

Police then found a hard drive connected to his TV in his bedroom. Officers found multiple indecent images and movies but stopped counting at 1,000. They included material in the most serious category and the abuse of children as young as four.

The defendant has previous convictions for possessing indecent images and has served stints in prison. He was given the SHPO in 2017.

Mr Harry Ahuja, defending, said he was ashamed of his behaviour and wanted the chance to do the Horizon sex offender programme - even though he had previously completed the course in 2017.

He said Al-Mudalal had been in the UK for 50 years and had an income through rented property. He was worried that if he went to jail he would not be able to send his sister in Jordan 450 a month.

A report by probation assessed him as a high risk of reoffending and not manageable in the community.

Judge James Townsend said: "You've been convicted yet again of possessing images of serious child abuse. Quite clearly they were viewed by you until recently. It was a very large number of images involving significant number of victims.

"You have previously offended in precisely this way and continue to offend. Probation services have little confidence that future intervention is likely to stop you offending. You have attended the Horizon programme but further work is unlikely to achieve much."

Al-Mudalal will serve half of his sentence in prison and rest on licence. He will remain subject to the SHPO and sex offender register for 10 years.

Description

A Wellingborough sex offender who was banned from contacting anyone under 16 has been jailed after chatting to girls at the Swansgate Shopping Centre.

Bradley Coulson, 21, was given a sexual harm prevention order (SHPO) on July 7, 2020, after Northamptonshire Police brought a civil case against him because of concerns about his behaviour.

He was forced to abide by a number of conditions, including having no contact with anyone under the age of 16.

Breaching the terms of a SHPO is a criminal offence which is punishable by prison and almost 18 months on he was arrested for doing just that.

On the afternoon of November 7 last year he was spotted speaking to a group of girls aged between 11 and 13 at the towns Swansgate Shopping Centre.

Coulson pleaded guilty to three counts of breaching his SHPO and was sentenced at Northampton Crown Court last week (April 29) to one year and six months in prison.

PC Andy Glover from Northamptonshire Polices MOSOVO team said: We take the management of sex offenders extremely seriously in this force they are very closely monitored and any breaches are dealt with swiftly.

If a breach is identified there are no second chances and just like Bradley Coulson offenders will be sent to prison.

I hope this case demonstrates our commitment to keeping the public of Northamptonshire safe and to bringing sex offenders to justice.

If you have concerns about someones behaviour report it to police by calling 101.

Description

A child sex offender has been sent back to jail after breaching a court order by deleting his internet browsing history and hiding electronic devices from the police. Jason Cartledge, 47 and of Calf Lane in Chipping Campden, had been jailed for ten months in 2017 for inciting a 15-year-old girl to engage in sexual activity. He had persuaded the girl to send him intimate pictures of herself via social media and had threatened to harm himself if she did not. He had added to the pressure on the girl by threatening to circulate compromising pictures of her if she did not keep complying with his demands. The sentence imposed on Cartledge in 2017, included an indefinite sexual harm prevention order requiring him to make his internet-enabled devices available for inspection by police. At Gloucester Crown Court on Wednesday, April 27, prosecutor Alan Williams said that on an unannounced police visit on August 24, 2021, Cartledge handed over his phone, a work phone and a gaming console. It was then found that he had an iPad and a laptop which he had not presented to police. An examination of the devices found the iPhone had 724 deleted messages, mostly from Whatsap, while the iPad had 90 deleted messages on TikTok. Cartledge admitted to breaching the court order on several occasions and said he did not want or need a lawyer to speak for him in court. He added: Im very sorry for what Ive done. I have turned a corner in my life and I am now a lorry driver. If I go to prison I will fall to lose everything. I hid the iPad because I had been watching pornography and was embarrassed about it. I purchased the laptop to repair my games console. I only deleted messages relating to a friend who was threatening to take her own life. I accept I should have spoken to my offender manager before I deleted these messages. Judge Michael Cullum noted that Cartledge had breached the order previously, in September 2018, when he was given a suspended prison sentence for having internet conversations with young females. He added: You stated to the police on arrest 'is there nothing I can have as my own' - the answer is no, because you contact children, sexually. That is your history because that is the way you have behaved in the past. You give an innocent explanation, which I dont accept. I suspect you may have been re-offending. The judge sentenced Cartledge to an immediate 12-month prison sentence and explained that he was unable to suspend it because of his history of poor compliance with court orders. The judge warned Cartledge that the indefinite sexual harm prevention order remains in place.

Description

A sex offender was found hiding a boy and a girl who were from children's homes in a wardrobe in his bedroom. Just weeks after police made the shocking discovery, Jamie Roberts took two boys - again vulnerable teens living in care - back to his house where they drank alcohol and took drugs - and he suggested getting amphetamine as it "makes you really horny".

Roberts, who also goes by the name Jamie Whelan, is currently subject to a sexual harm prevention order after being convicted of child abduction.

Swansea Crown Court heard that early in the morning of December 21 last year police in Swansea were notified that two teenagers - a girl and a boy - had failed to return home to their respective care homes by the allotted curfew times the previous night. Kevin Jones, prosecuting, said the police investigation led to Roberts' flat in Skewen, and at 3.40am officers knocked on his door. The court heard the lights were on in the property but the officers' knocks went unanswered, though they noticed the blinds in a window were twitching. Officers kept knocking and eventually Roberts answered - despite being fully clothed he told his callers he had been asleep.

The house was searched and it initially appeared Roberts was alone. However, officers noticed a big pile of bedding and clothes stacked up in front of a wardrobe in one of the bedrooms. And when officers moved the items, and opened the wardrobe, they found the missing children hiding inside. The teenagers were returned to their care homes and Roberts was arrested. In his subsequent interview the 35-year-old defendant provided a prepared statement in which he said the children had asked him to hide them, and that they had taken cocaine and amphetamine. After being questioned Roberts was released under investigation.

The court heard the second incident happened on February 28 this year and involved the same teen boy along with another male youth who was also living in care. The prosecutor said on this occasion Roberts met the boys at Swansea railway station and took them back to his home in Skewen. During the evening the trio drank alcohol and the two teens smoked cannabis, and Roberts suggested getting amphetamine as it "makes you really horny". At around 4am an argument broke out and Roberts chased the boys from his flat - apparently at knife-point. One boy rang his care home and a member of staff drove to Skewen to collect him. Roberts was again arrested and admitted arranging to pick up one of the boys from the station - but said he had been surprised to find the youngster was not alone.

Jamie Paul Roberts, of New Road, Skewen, Neath, had previously pleaded guilty to breaching a sexual harm prevention order when he appeared in the dock for sentencing. He has 19 previous convictions for 22 offences including a number for sexual offences beginning with the indecent assault of a girl when he was a juvenile - this involved him assaulting a girl in public toilets on a beach. In 2005 he was convicted at Swansea Crown Court of breaching a sexual harm prevention order, and convicted of the same offence two years later at Stratford Crown Court. However, the court did not hear details of these breaches.

In 2021 he was sentenced to a two-year community order for child abduction - this offence involved a young boy staying in his property in defiance of a child abduction warning notice issued by police following concerns raised by the boy's dad about the nature of the defendant's relationship with his son.

Ian Ibrahim, for Roberts, said the defendant's childhood had been "nothing short of a disaster for him". He said Roberts was taken into care at the age of four and put on anti-psychotic drugs because of his behaviour, and that was followed by a period of living with 10 different foster families and in five foster homes, as well as being bullied at school. The barrister said the defendant had subsequently been diagnosed with a number of conditions including personality disorder, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder and depression. Mr Ibrahim said Roberts had been the victim of a serious assault in Cardiff's Bute Park - the same area where Dr Gary Jenkins was murdered in a homophobic attack - and had also been the victim of so-called cuckooing when a drugs-gang took over his Neath flat.

Judge Paul Thomas QC said he had no doubt Roberts' contact with the young children from care homes had been sexually-motivated grooming behaviour. He said it was clear the defendant posed a risk of serious harm to children but said it was not possible to pass an extended sentence for the offences currently before the court.

With a one-quarter discount for his guilty pleas Roberts was sentenced to three-and-a-half years for breaching the sexual harm prevention order, and the judge re-sentenced the defendant for the previous child abduction offence imposing a six month sentence for that to run consecutively, making an overall sentence of four years in prison. Roberts will serve up to half that period in custody before being released on licence to serve the remainder in the community.

Description

A POLICE detective has praised the immense bravery of a victim after the man who raped her was jailed. Connor Curtis repeatedly ignored the woman telling him no when he carried out the sexual assault. Curtis, 24 and of Christchurch Road, Bournemouth was jailed for eight years by a judge at Bournemouth Crown Court on April 20. He had previously pleaded guilty to two counts of rape and one count of sexual assault. In a statement after Curtis was jailed, Detective Constable Joanne Thomas, of Dorset Police, said: I would like to praise the victim for the immense bravery she has shown in standing up to Connor Curtis and reporting what happened to police. The victim showed a lot of courage while the investigation was carried out and the court process was ongoing. "I hope this case will again demonstrate that Dorset Police takes these offences extremely seriously. "We will always listen to and support anyone who reports matters to us and offenders will be held accountable for the crimes they commit. As reported, Curtis denied his offending when interviewed by police. He told the officers the sex was consensual. The defendant pleaded not guilty to the charges at a crown court hearing in October last year, but changed his pleas to guilty earlier this year. Prosecutor Gemma White told the court the victim had suffered nightmares and flashbacks since Curtis had raped her. Alongside the prison sentence, of which Curtis will serve at least two-thirds behind bars before being released on licence, the offender was placed on the sex offenders register for the rest of his life. DC Thomas said: If you have been a victim of rape or sexual assault, and you want to report directly to the police please call 101 and ask to be put in contact with a specially-trained police officer. Always dial 999 in an emergency. Alternatively, you can contact The Shores Sexual Assault Referral Centre on 0800 970 9954.

Description

A Middlesbrough man who downloaded 518 illegal images of children, as well as an extreme pornographic image of a dog, told police "I'm not a monster - I would never hurt a child" when he was arrested.

David Clark, 37, had hundreds of pictures of children as young as three being sexually abused, as well as a pornographic image of a dog. Teesside Crown Court heard that he was caught with 148 class A illegal images of children - the most serious category; 226 category B images and 144 category C images.

Clark, of Midville Walk, Netherfields, admitted five counts of making an indecent photograph, or pseudo-photograph of a child. He also pleaded guilty to possessing an extreme pornographic image of an animal, before his trial was due to start.

Paul Cleasby, defending, told the court that his client had been psychologically affected from his work in conflict zones around the world: "He's entirely capable of being rehabilitated. The probation service are willing to work with him.

"A short custodial sentence would be counter productive in this case. He's thoroughly ashamed of himself."

Judge Howard Crowson told Clark: "You deserve to be ashamed. These are vile images, including particularly disturbing ones." The judge handed Clark a 44-week jail term, suspended for 18-months.

He was ordered to attend 25 rehabilitation days and made subject to a 10-year sexual harm prevention order, with sexual offender notification requirements for the same amount of time.

Description

A JOGGER repeatedly exposed himself to schoolgirls while taking his morning exercise, a court heard.

Serial flasher Mark Pittaway exposed himself to young females, mostly in the morning, while jogging around Portland.

His offending spanned a period of more than three years with one girl telling a court she saw him expose himself 'around 30 to 40 times'. One victim said she was 13 when she first saw Pittaway expose himself.

Brave victims told how they had been affected with one saying she was 'disgusted' by the behaviour.

Pittaway, of Portland Bill Road, Portland, appeared at Weymouth Magistrates Court for sentencing following a trial in which he was found guilty of five counts of exposure.

The 60-year-old had denied the charges which relate to a number of incidents between January 1, 2018, and May 3, 2021.

All charges involved him exposing himself on the isle with intent to be seen and to cause alarm or distress.

Prosecuting, Elizabeth Valera, said Pittaway would run on Portland exposing himself, particularly to young females on their way to school or waiting at a bus stop.

Statements were taken from four victims. It was said that Pittaway would jog down the street, often on the same side as them, pull his shorts to one side and expose himself.

Pittaway was arrested on May 4 last year. In interview he denied he had ever exposed himself, but did say 'my shorts are very short'.

Statements from victims were read out in court.

One said: "I have seen the same man since I was 13. It's a shock to see an adult man (exposing himself) as he is heading towards you."

Another victim, who read out her own statement, said she couldn't walk the streets alone in fear that it would happen again.

Another victim, who also read out her own statement, said: "I feel this man is a weirdo and made me feel weird. I'm disgusted by what he has done."

Mitigating, Gillian Jones QC, said the offences didn't involve any more direct contact with the girls other than running past them.

She said devices seized from Pittaway's home found nothing untoward.

Ms Jones said the defendant was 'horrified' by the impact his offending has had on the victims.

The court heard that Pittaway was married and that his wife remained supportive of him and that his offending had had a 'devastating impact' on his young family.

Ms Jones said Pittaway worked as a compliance officer for 35 years and lost his livelihood after he resigned.

"He is a man who can be properly managed and punished in the community," she said.

Chair of the bench, Sara Saunders, told Pittaway the impact of his offending on young female victims was 'immense'.

She said: "The four victims who have given their victim personal statements were very brave.

"The community of Portland deserves to be free of someone behaving in such an inappropriate manner. However, we are going to suspend your sentence because we believe there is a reasonable prospect of you being rehabilitated."

Pittaway was given a 12-month sentence suspended for two years and must undertake 20 Rehabilitation Activity Requirement Days, 250 hours of unpaid work and a 12-week curfew from 9pm to 9am, and will be fitted with an electronic tag during that 12-week period.

He must pay £620 towards cost, £150 to each of the four victims and a victim surcharge of £154.

A Sexual Harm Prevention Order was made for five years with conditions that Pittaway not exercise in a public place unless he is wearing long trousers or shorts which are at least knee length with no front fastening, and doesn't go jogging at specific hours or in particular areas of Portland.

The defendant must also register with the police in accordance with the Sexual Offences Act 2003 for a specified period.

Description

A SEX offender who has persistently flouted notification requirements whenever released from prison is back behind bars for his latest breaches. Jack Whitfield-Gash, then aged 20, was jailed for 16 months at Durham Crown Court in August 2017, after being convicted of sexual activity with a child under 16, an offence committed when he was said to be an 18-year-old. He was also made subject of a five-year Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO) and required to register as a sex offender for ten years, but committed his first breach shortly after his release, receiving an initial ten-day sentence. Whitfield-Gash was back before magistrates in Newton Aycliffe, in early March, and committed back to the crown court for sentence, having admitted two offences of failing to comply with notification requirements and three of failing to comply with a SHPO. The court was told he failed to inform police he was living at the home of a woman who has a young daughter, days after being released from Durham Prison, on January 18 this year. Durham Crown Court heard that he also chatted with two underage teenage girls at a bus stop, at which he told them he was stoned, and exchanged phone numbers with one, later receiving a message from her asking if he was, still stoned? Tabitha Buck, prosecuting, said his phone was seized after he left an address on February 28 and examination revealed contact with the girls, at a bus stop in Durham. The parents of the girl who sent the message to Whitfield-Gash were unaware their daughter had been in communication with him. When interviewed about the various breaches, Whitfield-Gash described the situation as, one big game, adding that it was, stupid little things that police keep getting him on. Miss Buck told the court the defendant became agitated with the interviewing officer and threatened to spit at her. Whitfield-Gash, 24, of no fixed address, but who has been in custody in Durham Prison since his latest arrest, in late February, was said to have 30 convictions for 50 offences, including 13 sex-related, 11 of them being previous failures to comply with notification requirements. Whitfield-Gash, 24, of no fixed address, but who has been in custody in Durham Prison since his latest arrest, in late February, was said to have 30 convictions for 50 offences, including 13 sex-related, 11 of them being previous failures to comply with notification requirements. Miss Buck told the court that the defendant, has links all over the North East, and she said the latest batch of offences suggested it was, a deliberate attempt to avoid detection, as he is fully aware of the requirements of the orders, given his recent offending history. Jane Waugh, in mitigation, said all the offences are committed as he is homeless, as those with whom he can make contact all live more than two hours by bus from any police station at which he must register his address. She said there was no intention to evade police and, with the brief meeting with the girls at the bus stop, there was, no sexual intention or motivation. Judge Ray Singh said he rejected Whitfield-Gashs assertion to police that these were just, trivial matters. You, more than anyone else, know the serious nature of the orders against you Because you know about this, you have appeared before the courts for 11 previous breaches. This is not an isolated offence. These are deliberate, persistent, prolonged breaches over a number of years, not stating to police where you are living, making it hard to monitor your movements. Im afraid the lessons are not sinking in over these matters. Imposing a two-year prison sentence Judge Singh said it would be for the police to apply, through other channels to extend the SHPO, which expires in August.

Description

A paedophile collected nearly 2,000 "horrific" child rape and abuse images.

James Mercer was hit with a Sexual Offences Prevention Order (SOPO) in 2013 after he was caught with a sick stash of indecent images of children. The decade-long order prevented him from accessing the internet unless he retained the browsing history and made it available for inspection by police.

But when officers performed a routine check on his computer equipment as part of the SOPO, they discovered another library of "appalling" photos. The 41-year-old, of Ashburn Avenue, Tower Hill, Kirkby, later admitted possessing 1,997 indecent images of children.

According to the charge, he downloaded the files over a near three-year period between May 16, 2018 and March 17, 2021. Mercer admitted downloading 368 Category A images - the most serious category involving child rape - plus 323 Category B and 1,306 Category C files.

Liverpool Crown Court heard he also pleaded guilty to possessing seven prohibited [cartoon or animated] images of a child. Prosecutors said Mercer was not in fact in breach of the SOPO, as the sex offender had not deleted or attempted to manipulate his search history.

The judge, Recorder Michael Taylor, said his previous convictions were an aggravating feature of the case. He decided the offences were so serious that only an immediate custodial sentence was appropriate.

Recorder Taylor jailed Mercer for 12 months and made him subject to a new indefinite SOPO. The judge told Mercer he must sign on the Sex Offenders Register for 10 years.

Speaking after the case, an NSPCC spokesperson said: "Every child featured in these indecent images is a victim of horrific abuse. The demand created for this appalling material by offenders like James Mercer means he shares responsibility for their terrible experiences.

"The NSPCC is determined to ensure the Government's upcoming Online Safety Bill is strengthened to prevent offenders like Mercer from using the online world as a gateway to abuse children."

Description

The former manager of a children's home jailed for historical child sexual abuse "ruined the lives of many young men", the chief constable has said. Joseph Marshall, 85, was sentenced to six years on Friday for abusing boys at Knottfield in Douglas between 1974 and 1982. Gary Roberts said it was "hard to overstate" the damage the "very dangerous sex offender" had caused. Marshall's victims "might now see some closure", he added. The serial abuser was convicted of three indecent assaults and two counts of gross indecency against two boys aged under 16 following a trial at Douglas Courthouse in December. He had previously been jailed in 1992 for 13 offences of indecent assault against other boys at the home. Mr Roberts said he had "no doubt at all" that more children had been abused by Marshall, and that it was "never too late" for them to come forward. 'Being believed' In a statement issued through the charity Victim Support Isle of Man, one of those who fell prey to Marshall said: "A guilty verdict is not just for the crimes he committed against me, but a guilty verdict is for the crimes he committed against every single victim he made. "I felt believed as soon as I had given my interview to the police and being believed was the biggest part for me." Responding to criticism by Deemster Bernard Richmond QC about evidence he gave to a Tynwald inquiry into Knottfield prior to the criminal proceedings, Mr Roberts said "to all intents and purposes the book had closed on Marshall" at that time. "What's also important to note is that inquiry by Tynwald brought out more victims,"he added.

Description

Richard Taylor, aged 55, assaulted multiple boys and girls in Nottingham over a 20 year period mostly by putting his hands under their clothing.

Taylor, of Exchange Road, West Bridgford, was found out when a former victim came forward to share her experiences with police.

A major police investigation followed, with detectives interviewing multiple witnesses and victims many of whom are now adults.

Taylor was first arrested in December 2017 and denied all the allegations against him.

During his initial police interview he provided a brief statement but declined to answer any of the questions posed to him.

He remained silent during further interviews as multiple other victims came forward to share their stories of abuse.

Taylor was eventually found guilty in February by a jury at Nottingham Crown Court of 11 offences two of indecent assault and nine of sexual assault.

He was found not guilty of two further counts of sexual assault.

Appearing at the same venue on Friday, April 29, he was jailed for 13 years.

He was added to the sexual offenders' register for life and was also made the subject of a sexual harm prevention order which will tightly restrict his activities when he is released.

Detective Constable Paul Crofts, of Nottinghamshire Police, said: Taylor committed these offences over a very long period of time and seemed to believe that he would never be held to account for what he was doing.

Thanks to the bravery of his victims his offending was exposed. I am delighted for them that they have finally got justice for what happened to them and hope this provides them with at least some degree of closure.

Offences of this nature are never easy to investigate particularly when they happened many years ago. But we always will investigate such allegations to the best of our ability.

Description

In the first incident Gallagher continued to rape the victim even after she repeatedly told him to stop, while on the second occasion she woke up to find Gallagher raping her.

Immediately after the second incident the victim called a friend to stay in her home as Gallagher refused to leave.

A victim impact statement read out in court said the victim had suffered significant trauma as a result of the incidents, which continues to this day.

At Luton Crown Court yesterday (Thursday), Gallagher was sentenced to three years in prison for the first offence and six years for the second. The sentences will be served at the same time.

Description

A Harrogate paedophile is facing a long prison sentence for the systematic sexual abuse of a young girl.

Neil Michael Stubbs, 26, was convicted of 13 separate offences this week following a four-day trial at York Crown Court.

The jury heard that Stubbs, of Kingsley Park Road, Starbeck, groomed and sexually abused the youngster over a prolonged period.

They found him guilty of all 13 charges, including one count of attempted rape of a child under 13 years of age, two counts of engaging in sexual activity in the presence of a child, sexual assault, possessing indecent images and several counts of causing or inciting a child to engage in sexual activity.

Prosecutor Paul Newcombe said that some of the offences including engaging in sexual activity in the presence of a child, sexual assault and causing a child to engage in sexual activity were specimen counts, meaning they happened on multiple occasions.

He said that Stubbs would perform lewd acts on himself in front of the girl and got her to perform sexual acts on him on at least six occasions.

Stubbs also pestered her to send him naked photos of herself, added Mr Newcombe.

Following his arrest, police seized Stubbss phone on which they found indecent images of children, including some naked photos of the victim, who cannot be named for legal reasons.

Some of the other images were rated Category A the worst kind of such material.

Mr Newcombe said it showed that Stubbs had an unhealthy obsession with children.

The jury returned their verdicts yesterday (Thursday, April 28). Judge Sean Morris, the Recorder of York, adjourned sentence to August 15.

Description

A KENDAL man has been put on the Sex Offender Register after he admitted three sex offences involving a child. 2 Stephen Wetton, 62, of Garden Street, Kendal, entered guilty pleas to three allegations when he appeared before a judge at Carlisle Crown Court. Those offences were outlined in court as follows: - That he attempted to cause or incite a child a girl aged 13 - to engage in sexual activity on April 27, 2020. - That he attempted to cause or incite a child the same 13-year-old to engage in sexual activity on May 5, 2020. - And that he attempted to sexually communicate with a 13-year-old between April 15, 2020 and May 20 of that year, doing so for his own sexual gratification and knowing or believing that the person was aged 13. The defendants defence barrister told the court that Wetton was a man of previous good character and requested a pre-sentence report. The defendant is aware that the Sex Offender Register will bite as of today, said the barrister. Judge Nicholas Barker told the defendant that the period for which the defendant will remain on the Sex Offender Register will be determined by the length and nature of sentence that he ultimately receives. The judge set the sentencing date as May 26, granting the defendant bail until that day. In the meantime, a background report will be prepared.

Description

A former children's entertainer and clown who was caught with thousands of indecent images on his phone failed to tell police he had moved to a new town, a court has heard.

When officers found Kingsley Perera at his new address - following information received from the Department for Work and Pensions - they found what appeared to be a child's bedroom in the property, complete with "racing car" bed.

Swansea Crown Court heard the 59-year-old has "memory issues", and the fact he is required to tell police if he moves "fell off the radar".

Perera was jailed for 10 months in December 2020 after being caught almost 4,000 images of children being sexual abused and raped on his mobile phones, including more than 600 so-called Category A photos which show the most extreme kind of abuse. He denied he was responsible for downloading the images and at trial sought to blame others - including his own sister - who he said had acted out of spite, or for their own sexual purposes. As part of his sentence he was made the subject of a sexual harm prevention order for 10 years and was placed on the sex offenders register for the same length of time - under the notification requirements he must tell police about any new address within three days.

Stephen Rees, prosecuting, told the court that on March 17 this year police officers went to a house on Pen-y-Cae Road in Port Talbot following information received from the Department for Work and Pensions. In the driveway of the property was a vehicle which was insured in the defendant's name. Officers spent around 10 minutes knocking on the front door until the defendant looked out from the bathroom window.

The officers were let into the house, and the court heard they were concerned that one of the bedrooms appeared to be a child's room complete with a "racing car" bed.

Kingsley Perera, now of Pier Street in Swansea Maritime Quarter, had previously pleaded guilty to breaching sexual registration notification requirements when he appeared in the dock for sentencing.

Vince Williams, for Perera, said the defendant had been evicted from his previous property on Hanover Street in Swansea, and had then been put in touch with a landlord who provided accommodation to former inmates. He said in the stress of being homeless and trying to find somewhere to live, notifying the police of the change of address had "fallen off the radar". He added that while not an excuse, there was evidence that Perera had "memory issues".

Judge Wayne Beard said he had read a pre-sentence on the defendant, and it was of concern that the he still seemed to maintain his position that he was not guilty of the possession of images charges. However he said it was significant that the author of the report concluded Perera posed a greater risk if he were sent back to custody than if he were to undergo a rehabilitation course in the community.

The judge said the offence of failing to abide by notification requirements was a serious one but he said "it seems the public would be better protected in these circumstances if I were to impose a suspended sentence".

With a one-third discount for his guilty plea Perera was sentenced to 24 weeks in prison suspended for 18 months, and was ordered to complete a rehabilitation requirement with a Maps for Change sex offenders course.