Locations
Charles Street, Easington Colliery, Peterlee, Durham, SR8
Description
Kenneth Barnes jailed after further child image offences
A County Durham man given a suspended sentence last November for possessing indecent images of children has been jailed after committing further similar offences while being managed in the community.
Kenneth Barnes, 50, of Charles Street, Easington Colliery, was sentenced at Durham Crown Court to 15 months in prison. That total includes six months activated from a 10-month sentence, suspended for 18 months, imposed in November after he admitted possessing indecent images of children in all three categories of severity. He was also made subject to a Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO) and sex offender registration, both for 10 years.
Prosecutor Ralf Xhepa said Barnes was being managed by police and the Probation Service as “a high-risk offender.” On 17 February his risk manager and a digital officer attended his home and seized his mobile phone. Examination found he had downloaded further indecent images of children.
He was arrested on 17 April. In interview he only accepted that the phone was his. Mr Xhepa said that between the November conviction and the February seizure Barnes downloaded a further 80 indecent images, including 13 in the most serious category.
After initial denials, Barnes admitted three further counts of making indecent images of children in late July.
Chris Morrison, defending, said Barnes had completed an overnight home curfew and 10 rehabilitation activity sessions under the November sentence. The phone seized in the earlier investigation had later been returned to him. “He continued to use it, something he’s very remorseful about and, when it was explained to me, the return of the device was, perhaps, ill-advised.”
Mr Morrison said Barnes had struggled with his circumstances and lived “a very solitary and isolated life in Easington.” He added that Barnes had found it difficult on remand since April.
Recorder Mark McKone imposed the 15-month sentence and warned that any further similar offending could lead to an extended prison term. Barnes remains subject to the SHPO and notification requirements imposed in November.