A sex offender was caught with images of child abuse on his computer for the second time by police officers who were monitoring him. <\/p>\n
Francis Chowns latest offending was revealed when he received an unannounced visit by an officer from the public protection unit. <\/p>\n
The defendant took the officer into his one-bedroom bedsit and it was immediately obvious hed been using a laptop open and facing his bed, prosecutor Rachel Masters told Teesside Crown Court today. <\/p>\n
The officer could not find any internet history on the laptop and the computer-savvy 55-year-old offender said he had no idea how he could help. <\/p>\n
Chowns computer was seized and 74 indecent pictures of children were found on it after the visit to his home on August 12, 2015. <\/p>\n
He said he had sole access to the machine and had viewed adult pornography but claimed he did not recall how the illegal images of children got there. <\/p>\n
Chown, of Hartington Road, central Stockton, admitted three charges of possessing indecent photographs of children and one of possessing two images of extreme pornography. <\/p>\n
He had a 2013 conviction and suspended prison sentence for having indecent pictures of children. <\/p>\n
He flouted that sentence and a sexual offences prevention order by having contact with children, not telling their family he was a convicted sex offender. <\/p>\n
For those crimes he received another six-month suspended jail term in April 2015, which he breached with his latest offences. <\/p>\n
Alex Bousfield, defending, said Chown expressed remorse and shame and there were no difficulties since the pictures were discovered. <\/p>\n
But there were concerns about his ongoing fantasies. <\/p>\n
Hes been told its a custodial sentence, added Mr Bousfield. <\/p>\n
It has to be a custodial sentence. Hes breached the first suspended sentence. Hes breached the second suspended sentence. <\/p>\n
Hes clearly very anxious and worried about a custodial sentence. <\/p>\n
Judge Simon Bourne-Arton QC, the Recorder of Middlesbrough, said Chowns pre-sentence report from the Probation Service made rather depressing reading. <\/p>\n
It said Chown initially claimed he had no idea how the indecent images found their way on to his computer and he tried to play down his behaviour. <\/p>\n
The judge told Chown: When you were before this court in April 2015 you had been told what would happen should you commit any further offences during the currency of that suspended sentence. <\/p>\n
With those words ringing in your ears you went on to commit these offences. Within four months you are looking at these images. <\/p>\n
I say this repeatedly - this is not a victimless crime. You may think its without a victim looking at these images in your home. <\/p>\n
They are real children being made to carry out these acts. It most certainly does have victims. These poor children have to carry out those acts for your pleasure. <\/p>\n
He jailed Chown for 18 months. <\/p>\n
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