Locations
Lansdowne Road, Penzance, Cornwall, TR18
Description
A convicted paedophile claimed that his internet searches for 'tiny' and 'tiny teens' did not relate to seeking out indecent images of children. Bryan Hammonde, 74, had installed Duck Duck Go, software that allows someone to browse the web without storing history.
Hammonde, from Lansdowne Road in Penzance, appeared at Truro Crown Court for sentence having pleaded guilty to breach of a sexual harm prevention order and four charges relating to him failing to adhere to notification requirements as a sex offender.
Prosecuting the case, Ed Bailey told the court how in 2020 Hammonde was given a non-custodial sentence for looking at sickening child abuse images showing young victims grimacing with pain. Hammonde had nearly 40 indecent images spanning all three categories of seriousness and was made to sign the sex offenders' register and made subject of a sexual harm prevention order.
Mr Bailey told the court how PC Waite and DS Bradley attended Hammonde's address last month for an unannounced interview. Hammonde had had the terms of his order and registration requirements spelled out to him several times since his conviction.
Hammonde's laptop was found to have searched 'tiny' and 'tiny teens'. An inspection revealed that Hammonde had been using Duck Duck Go on his phone, which puts him in breach of his order which prevents him from removing browsing history.
When searched at the police station, Hammonde was found in possession of a number of bank cards that he hadn't told police about, going against his legal requirements as a registered sex offender.
Representing Hammonde, Ramsay Quaife said the breaches were not deliberate and that his client doesn't accept the searches were looking for child pornography. He added that the devices seized were still being looked at to see if there was indecent images on them, which may or may not lead to further charges depending on what is or isn't found.
Sentencing Hammonde, Recorder Richard Stead said that as an ex-IT manager, Hammonde would have fully understood the terms of his order, yet he still proceeded to use software capable of hiding internet history.