Locations
Meltham Road, Huddersfield, Kirklees, HD4
Description
A registered Kirklees sex offender is behind bars just weeks after his arrest after being caught out by specialist child protection officers.
Ryan Walsh, aged 39 of Meltham Road, Huddersfield, was sentenced to three years in prison at Leeds Crown Court yesterday (19 February) after admitting offences including sexual communication with a child and breach of a Sexual Harm Prevention Order.
The 39-year-old had been visited by officers from the Kirklees Public Protection Unit on 20 January as part of routine monitoring of him as a sex offender.
A search of his electronic devices revealed evidence of offending and he was arrested there and then, charged, and in court the next day.
Appearing at court yesterday, Walsh was jailed after admitting offences of sexual communication with a 13-year-old child, and two offences of making indecent photographs of a child.
He also admitted breaching his Sexual Harm Prevention Order and breach of the sex offenders register requirements.
PC Richard Thorp of the Kirklees Police Public Protection Unit, said
“We welcome the conviction of Ryan Walsh at Leeds Crown Court yesterday, and hope it demonstrates that committing offences online and breaching orders, put in place to protect the public can only have one outcome.
“Our unit works tirelessly, and does its upmost, to protect children and vulnerable people from the damage and distress that offenders like Walsh can inflict.”
DI Angela Francome of the Kirklees Public Protection Unit, added:
“Walsh’s swift sentencing within just over a month of his initial arrest demonstrates how well inter agency public protection can work to monitor registered sex offenders, and then swiftly act if offending occurs.
“Walsh was caught as a result of the monitoring our team and other public protection colleagues carry out on a daily basis across West Yorkshire.
“We continue to urge anyone who has any information about sexual offending in Kirklees or anywhere else in the force area to contact West Yorkshire Police.”