Simon Jones 32

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A paedophile who called police checks on his phone "intrusive" was warned by a judge today that his online activities are "transparent".

Simon Jones had been found with indecent images of children and made subject to a sexual harm prevention order last year.

But a court heard today he breached that order three times. Mold Crown Court heard a police officer made a routine check on Jones on January 30 this year. Prosecutor Laura Knightly said said they found he had breached his SHPO after creating a Snapchat account and activating "Disappearing Messages" on WhatsApp.

Amy Edwards, defending, said Jones, of Howell Avenue, Rhuddlan, said he had not been trying to hide his actions. It was not an excuse but Jones had been "extremely embarrassed" by his previous conviction.

He had been subject to the terms of the SHPO and sex offender notification requirements. Ms Edwards said the breaches had had "nothing to do" with images of children, apps or chatrooms which related to his initial offences (for which he was made subject to the SHPO).

His mental health has been "dire" with severe anxiety and depression. He has a young family and lost his mother three months ago.

The judge Her Honour Nicola Jones said the defendant had been found with illegal images of children of category A, B and C between November 17, 2023 and June 11 last year.

He was given a suspended jail sentence and made subject to the SHPO. But between October 28 last year and January 1 this year he breached the order three times after installing WhatsApp's "auto delete" messages on his phone.

The judge said Jones said police "intruded" on his life. But she said after his original conviction "your online life becomes transparent".

She sentenced Jones to 12 months imprisonment for each breach, with two running concurrently.