Locations
Bursledon Road, Southampton, Hampshire, SO19
Description
A paedophile was caught with images of children as young as five-months-old being abused, a court heard.
Sean Hammerton has a history of sexual offences involving children stretching back six years.
The 28-year-old asked online forum users for “young selfies” and said he was “into those aged 10 plus".
When officers seized his silver iPhone they found 730 still and moving images of children, aged six months to five years.
They also found images of “extreme bestiality”.
Prosecuting, Mr Andrew Houston said that the defendant boasted online about how he “kept his images so they couldn’t be found".
Hammerton, of Bursledon Road, Southampton, appeared at the city crown court on Monday charged with possessing and distributing indecent images of children, and possessing extreme pornography.
He pleaded guilty to the offences committed between 2017 and 2020.
He also admitted to breaching a suspended sentence.
Mr Houston told that in 2016 Hammerton was handed an 18-month suspended sentence for distributing and taking indecent images of children, sexual assault, and voyeurism.
In 2020 he was found to be in breach of a sexual harm prevention order after using an incognito private browsing mode to watch porn.
He was also caught with three prohibited images of children.
Speaking on the previous convictions, Mr Houston said: “When the defendant was 16 he began discussing the sexual abuse of others.
“His crimes spanned over 10 years.
“He then went on to commit further offences during the period of his suspended sentence.”
Defending, Charles Gabb said that entering a guilty plea was Hammerton’s “sincerest way of expressing remorse".
He said: “The effect upon others is very reprehensible.
“Mr Hammerton has got to do something about this because it’s longstanding and a problem.
“This dark side of his life can be exposed in such a format that he learns ways to avoid it in the future.
“Sometimes, it takes people a bit longer to face reality.
“One can only hope that a new chapter of his life is about to begin.”
Passing sentence, Judge Nicholas Rowland said: "There are a number of passages of offending after your previous conviction.
"I can see you are highly manipulative and you do pose a significant risk of harm."
Hammerton was jailed for four and a half years.