Description
An online pervert who was caught with sickening indecent images of children realised that he could be in big trouble and made an internet search: "What do HM Prison cells look like?"
Shane Silby found himself in hot water after police discovered that he had been been downloading images of children as young as three years old, Hull Crown Court heard.
Silby, 51, of Bransholme, Hull, admitted three offences of making indecent images of children on March 30, 2023.
Ben Hammersley, prosecuting, said that police were given information that indecent images of children had been downloaded from the internet from an identified IP address and postal address. A search warrant was issued.
Police found that the regular occupant of that property was on holiday and that Silby was looking after it. He was arrested from his home on March 30, 2023.
A laptop was found to have indecent images of children, including 30 in the most serious Category A, 26 in Category B and two in Category C. They featured children as young as three years old.
Silby had made an internet search for "What do HM Prison cells look like?" During police interview, he made no comment to all questions. He had convictions for 11 previous offences, most recently in 1996 but none of a similar type.
Holly Thompson, mitigating, said that Silby had worked for most of his life but he had recently not been able to work because of illness. He pleaded guilty to the offences.
Judge Tahir Khan KC told Silby: "You downloaded indecent images of children and you pleaded guilty at the first opportunity."
Silby was given a 16-month suspended prison sentence and 25 days' rehabilitation. He was given a 10-year sexual harm prevention order and he must register as a sex offender for 10 years.
"If you don't do what's required of you by the probation service, that will bring you back before the court and you may have to serve out the 16 months," said Judge Khan.