PAEDOPHILE JAILED AFTER POLICE SAW WHAT WAS ON HIS SECRET LAPTOP
A sex offender has been jailed after he made indecent images of children, breaching his Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO).In April 2024, John Clegg was given a 10-year SHPO for offences of making indecent images of children.
One of the conditions of this order prevented him from creating any new social media accounts or using any accounts without the permission of his offender manager.
He was also prohibited from deleting any software, installing any software that could hide or conceal his identity, or creating or accessing cloud-based internet storage, or using video and audio streaming services.
Clegg disregarded these conditions, and when reviewed by his offender manager, it was found that he had created three new social media accounts.
Upon further examination, it was discovered that he had deleted Facebook messages, 26 contacts in his phone and 15 messages.
He had also deleted four apps, two of which were messaging apps.
In June 2024, officers attended his home address and located a laptop which had been hidden from them.
On that laptop, they found a Category A indecent image of a child.
At a later visit, it was discovered that he had been searching for indecent images of children and downloading the dark web.
Clegg, 55, of Bowland Fold in Halton, Lancaster, later pleaded guilty to two counts of making an indecent photograph of a child, two counts of failure to comply with notification requirements and 11 counts of breaching a Sexual Harm Prevention Order.
His previous suspended sentence was also activated, and he received a total sentence of three years and eight months.
DC Adam Weaver of MOSOVO West stated: “Clegg had a blatant disregard for the conditions imposed on him, in order to keep the public safe.
He continued to commit crimes, targeting the most vulnerable.
He will now serve a custodial sentence for his actions.
“This type of criminality will not be tolerated in Lancashire.
We will not hesitate to put convicted sex offenders back before the court if they fail to keep to the terms of their lawful requirements.
If you have concerns that someone is committing a crime, please get in touch with us.”
