SUSPENDED SENTENCE FOR BILLERICAY PAEDOPHILE CHARLIE CLARKE
A man from Billericay who was found with a second-hand computer purchased via Facebook Marketplace explained to police that it was a Christmas gift for his son.Clarke received a Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO) last year after authorities discovered he possessed child sexual abuse material.
Essex Police conducted a search of his residence following intelligence suggesting he had been accessing illegal content.
He admitted to three counts of creating indecent images of children and a single count of possessing extreme pornography.
The five-year SHPO prohibited him from owning any device capable of internet browsing or storing images without informing police and making the devices available for inspection.
During a routine check in December, officers found a white PS5 console.
Clarke claimed he bought the gaming system in November as a gift and had set it up for his son.
At Basildon Crown Court, Judge Samantha Cohen questioned the validity of his explanation but decided to suspend his eight-month prison sentence for 18 months.
Conditions included an 18-month supervision period and a four-month curfew from 7pm to 6am.
Additionally, she ordered the destruction of the PS5 and imposed a £304 fine for court costs.
The judge highlighted concerns about potential online grooming risks associated with gaming, especially considering Clarke’s sexual offending background.
