Benjamin Linard 36

Description

A sex offender is back behind bars after police received reports he had accessed indecent images of children on his phone.

Benjamin Linard, 36, of Old Mill Terraces, Beccles, was sentenced to 28 months at Ipswich Crown Court on March 6 after pleading guilty to breaching his Sexual Harm Protection Order (SHPO) and three counts of making indecent images of children.

The former prisoner was convicted in 2017 for making and distributing indecent images of children, possessing prohibited images and extreme pornographic material involving animals. He was jailed for 20 months, placed on the Violent and Sex Offenders Register (ViSOR) for 10 years and given an indefinite SHPO. He had been managed by the Public Protection Unit since his release.

Linard was arrested on February 6, 2025, after officers seized his phone and found one Category A image, three Category B images and three Category C images, plus evidence of deleted internet searches for child abuse material. He was charged in October 2025.

Jenna Brock, an officer from the Public Protection Unit, said:

"Linard has demonstrated that he has a relentless sexual interest in children and cannot be trusted to behave lawfully.

"The prohibitions imposed through his new Sexual Harm Prevention Order will allow the police to monitor his online behaviour for the next 10 years following his release from prison, reducing the risk to the public.

"Suffolk Constabulary is committed to using every legal and investigative tool available to prevent further harm, protect vulnerable children, and bring offenders of criminality against children to justice."