Scarlett Lee 30

Description

A paedophile was found with a folder of animated images depicting child sex abuse despite being made subject to a court order for the same offence.

She also breached an order after using a different name to access social media accounts, after she had transitioned.

Scarlett Lee, 30, previously known as Scott Henwood, was made subject to a Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO) in February last year when she was convicted of possessing a prohibited image of a child. She was made subject to a two-year community order, as well as sex offender notification requirements and a Sexual Harm Prevention Order.

A sentencing hearing at Cardiff Crown Court on Tuesday heard the defendant was living in support accommodation and on May 11 last year, a support worker cleaning her room noticed a message of a sexual nature on Lee's phone. For the latest court reports sign up to our crime newsletter.

The worker notified her senior manager who spoke to the defendant, who then showed the manager an animated sexual image on her computer.

Prosecutor Dominie Patel said Lee was asked if she had accessed the dark web, which she denied but she said: "There's probably stuff I shouldn't have on my laptop".

The police were called and a number of devices were seized, including a PC tower.

An examination of the device revealed a folder containing 80 animated images depicting adults engaging in sexual activity with children.

The defendant was bailed but on March 12 this year, she breached the SHPO she was subject to after using a name other than Scott Henwood to access a YouTube account.

When questioned by police, the defendant said had changed her name to Scarlett Lee by deed poll, and believed the SHPO had been updated to include her new name.

Lee, of The Parc, Bridgend, pleaded guilty to possession of a prohibited image of a child and breach of a SHPO.

The court heard she has three previous convictions for breaching a SHPO and had previously been made subject to an eight-month prison sentence, suspended for two years.

In mitigation, Bethan Evans said her client has a number of "personal difficulties" including her mental health, being diagnosed with autism and bipolar disorder, bullying and isolation. It was also said she has lost contact with her family following her "transition".

Sentencing, the Recorder of Cardiff Judge Tracey Lloyd-Clarke said: "You have no regard for orders made by the court. You have a persistent interest in child abuse images, but you deny having a sexual interest in children or of understanding the SHPO."

The judge added there was "no or little realistic prospect of rehabilitation".

Lee was sentenced to a total of two years and four months imprisonment.

She will remain subject to sex offender notification requirements and the SHPO.