Samuel Kettell 24

Description

A sex offender used a public computer at an arts venue library to search for indecent images of children, a court heard.

The manager at The Baltic Centre for Contemporary Art, in Gateshead, became aware of the internet searches by Samuel Kettell and found the offending images, on November 15.

Newcastle Crown Court heard that Kettells activities raised concerns as the computer used by him was available for the use of the general public, including children visiting The Baltic.

When Kettell was arrested two days later, he was found to be in possession of amphetamines.

Graham OSullivan, prosecuting, said it was one of a number of breaches of either a Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO) or notification requirements as a sex offender which were imposed on Kettell after he was jailed at Durham Crown Court for downloading and distributing indecent images of children, in 2022.

Mr OSullivan said Kettell, formerly of Peterlee, County Durham, was made subject of the SHPO and registration requirements as a sex offender, both for ten years, as part of the sentence in 2022.

Concern was raised with Kettell by his risk management officer in June this year as he had pending no fixed address status.

Mr OSullivan said the defendant was reminded he was still required to register with police where was staying on a weekly basis.

When he was spoken to by police over unrelated matters on September 16, Kettell claimed to have no phone.

Having registered with police the next day, he failed to do so the following week, but when he was spoken to by police and searched, he was found to be in possession of two phones.

Kettell was arrested on October 10 and gave police a false name and tried to make off, but he was detained and admitted the breaches.

Mr OSullivan said an officer recognised Kettell when the defendant left Rustys bar in Newcastle, on October 25.

He was found to be in possession of an 8cm craft knife blade, which was hidden in his shoe, as well as a bag of amphetamines.

Kettell chose not to respond to police questions, but after his misuse of the Baltic Centre library computers, he was arrested again, on November 17, when he was also found to be in possession of a bag of amphetamines.

The defendant again chose not to answer police questions and has remained in custody in recent weeks.

Mr OSullivan said Kettell was also found in possession of indecent images in November last year and received a nine-month prison sentence, which he served prior to his release not long before his recent offending.

Penny Hall, for Kettell, said the facts of the latest breaches and offences, speak for themselves and the defendant admitted them all when he appeared before magistrates, who, duly, committed the case to the crown court for sentence.

Miss Hall said it has been the defendants lack of stable accommodation which has impacted his ability to comply with the various court orders.

She said the craft knife blade was carried by the defendant at a time when he was homeless, but it was never brandished.

Miss Hall said the defendant hopes to usefully use his time in prison and will made concerted efforts to find a fixed address by the time his release from the latest sentence nears, to ensure he compliance to court orders improves in future.

Judge Carolyn Scott said the possession of the craft knife blade and the defendants misuse of the public computer at the Baltic, to access pornography and indecent images of children, were the most serious of his offences.

You were doing so in a public place in a library where members of the public, including children, had access to that computer.

It is all aggravated by your previous convictions.

She imposed a total two-year prison sentence, of which he must serve up to half before being released on licence.

Judge Scott advised the defendant to comply with the terms of his various orders, upon release, or risk spending more time behind bars.

She renewed Scotts ten-year notification requirements as a sex offender, while he also remains subject of the terms of his existing ten-year SHPO.