Locations
Ushaw Moor, County Durham, DH7
Description
A paedophile who was found with a hoard of sickening abuse images had shared some to other perverts online and videoed two children on his phone.
Jack Mellis, 22, was found in possession of 46 hours worth of category A indecent videos when police examined his mobile phone. Officers had seized his phone after they became aware he had been sharing child abuse images online. But worryingly, during analysis of his iPhone, an expert discovered two videos of young children which he had surreptitiously filmed himself.
Mellis, of Ushaw Moor, County Durham, appeared at Durham Crown Court on Wednesday to be sentenced for making indecent images, distribution of indecent images, and voyeurism. He had pleaded guilty to the charges at a previous hearing.
Deborah Smithies, prosecuting, said on December 28, last year, police received information that Mellis had uploaded two category B indecent images - which depicted a 10-year-old girl - to Reddit. She said: "Police went to the defendant's home address on June 9 this year and spoke to the defendant, who said he may have inadvertently downloaded indecent images. His iPhone was seized and examined by an expert."
The court heard that following examination of his iPhone, a total of 113 category A images and nine videos were found, along with 128 category B images and three videos, and 457 category C images and nine videos. But as well as those indecent images, a concerning video was also discovered of a child that Mellis had secretly filmed himself by hiding his phone.
Ms Smithies said that analysis of his iPhone continued and on July 1, another video was discovered of a child that Mellis had secretly filmed - the court heard the video lasted 15 seconds. When Mellis was interviewed by police, he made "full admissions" and told officers he had "hundreds of images" and admitted he "obtained sexual gratification from viewing them". He said he would view images on a website and save some into a folder and "accepted sharing images with others".
Lewis Kerr, defending, said there was a "strong, realistic prospect of rehabilitation" and said since his arrest he had begun engaging with a foundation and had been in employment. He said that Mellis and members of his family had also spent over 100 days living in a Washington Travelodge since the offences. Mr Kerr added: "He is able to reflect on his offending and has shown victim awareness. He sincerely recognises the harm he has caused."
Sentencing Mellis, Judge Jo Kidd said he was found in possession of "46 hours worth of category A videos" and jailed him for 18 months and made him subject of a 10-year sexual harm prevention order. He will also be on the sex offenders register for 10 years.