Martin Harvey 66

Description

A SEX offender from Rugby who downloaded almost a thousand indecent images of children has been jailed for two years.

Martin Harvey, 66, of Ferndown Road, was being monitored by officers and the probation service following a previous sexual offence.

And in 2023 it was discovered that he had deleted some of his internet browsing history – breaching his Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO).

He was also found to have a hard drive containing almost a thousand indecent images of children.

When Harvey was interviewed by officers, he claimed he had deleted browsing history on his phone because he had been having issues with ‘pop ups’ and he believed that might fix it.

He then claimed that he had bought the hard drive because he wanted to research ways to reinstate his search history.

When officers asked why the hard drive contained indecent images of children, Harvey said he had ‘drifted back into the old days,’ adding, ‘I was stupid’.

He was subsequently charged with breaching his SPHO and for downloading indecent images of children.

On Wednesday May 29, Harvey appeared before Warwick Crown Court where he was jailed for 24 months.

DC Lauren Cooper said: “We are thankful to the courts for this sentence.

“I hope this serves as a warning to others who believe they can continue to offend in this way.

“Viewing indecent images of children creates a market for the sexual abuse of children, and I want to be absolutely clear – if you are involved in the production or viewing of materials like that, it’s only a matter of time before we are at your door.”