MAN SPARED JAIL FOR SECOND INDECENT IMAGE OFFENCE
A sex offender with a criminal record was found in possession of over 1,500 indecent images of children while he was under supervision after being released from prison for a similar crime.Anthony Beresford was monitored by the police’s public protection unit (PPU) following his release from a 14-month sentence handed down in 2020 for offences involving indecent images.
During a court hearing at Norwich Crown Court, it was revealed that police officers visited Beresford in July 2022 and discovered he had a KIK social media account and a laptop, both violations of a Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO) that was part of his 2020 sentencing.
Prosecutor Peter Gair stated that the devices contained 359 images classified as Category A, the most serious, along with 612 Category B images and 552 Category C images.
Beresford, who resides on Hall Lane in North Walsham, appeared before the court on Thursday, January 15, after admitting to the charges related to indecent images and breaching his SHPO.
Judge David Pugh remarked that Beresford, who runs an online business selling vintage computer equipment from the 1980s, had accessed a large number of child indecent images.
In sentencing him to 14 months in prison, suspended for two years, the judge considered that the offences took place over three years ago and had not been repeated since.
Defence solicitor Andrew Oliver explained that Beresford had uploaded images onto his phone but was unaware they were stored on his laptop.
"He believed the images on his phone had been deleted," Mr Oliver stated.
Although the defendant accepted responsibility, Mr Oliver noted that Beresford had demonstrated insight into his actions, which occurred during a difficult period of separation from his wife.
The court ordered Beresford to complete 180 hours of unpaid work, up to 15 days of Rehabilitation Activity Requirement (RAR), and undertake an accredited programme consisting of up to 26 sessions.
He was also placed on the sex offenders’ register for ten years and subject to a SHPO for the same period.
