HIGH RISK HALIFAX PAEDOPHILE JAILED FOR 14 MONTHS
A CONVICTED paedophile has been handed a suspended prison sentence after admitting searching the internet for indecent photographs of children.Bradford Crown Court heard how Hartley-Conway, 28, a content creator from Union Street South, Halifax, was caught after indecent images of children were uploaded to Snapchat accounts linked to his email addresses between April and October 2022.
Prosecutor Verity Barnes stated police arrested him at his home following intelligence from the National Crime Agency.
When Hartley-Conway’s phone was seized and examined, it was found to contain 50 indecent images of children, mostly in Category C, with four in Category B.
Evidence also showed he carried out web searches indicative of seeking indecent images.
He claimed he believed the images were cartoons and denied asking for or trading images, suggesting his email may have been hacked.
In January, he traveled to Alicante, Spain, for four days and was arrested after returning for failing to notify authorities of his travel plans.
Hartley-Conway pleaded guilty to making indecent images and failing to comply with notification requirements.
He previously was convicted of child sex offences.
The court sentenced him to eight months suspended for two years, ordered him to complete 200 hours of unpaid work, and attend 20 rehabilitation days, including the Building Choices programme.
He was also ordered to have his phone forfeited and destroyed.
——————————————————————————————————- NEW OFFENCE 21/11/2025 A registered sex offender named Josh Hartley-Conway has been sent to prison for 14 months, with the sentencing judge warning that he may face even longer terms if he continues to offend.
Appearing by video link from HMP Leeds, Hartley-Conway listened as Recorder Andrew Haslam KC outlined the concerns raised in the pre-sentence report.
The report, the court heard, offered little confidence that he would avoid further offending or engage positively with community-based requirements.
According to the assessment, there was no indication that he was motivated to change, and his likelihood of committing further sexual offences — including future contact offending — was described as high.
Recorder Haslam told him that, based on his history and current risk factors, future courts could well consider him dangerous and impose an extended sentence if similar behaviour continues.
Hartley-Conway, aged 28 and living on Union Street South in Halifax, came to police attention after officers visited his home on 28 June acting on intelligence.
A forensic search of his phone uncovered 18 indecent images of children, aged between roughly ten and sixteen, falling into categories B and C.
The files had been downloaded over a period stretching from June of the previous year into mid-June of this year.
He declined to answer questions when interviewed by officers.
The court was reminded that he has three earlier convictions covering ten sexual offences, including assaulting a girl under 13, inciting a boy under 13 to engage in penetrative activity, and creating indecent images of children.
That offending previously resulted in him receiving a three-year community order.
It was also noted in earlier hearings that Hartley-Conway is autistic, struggles with information processing, and had experienced significant harassment after his previous conviction, prompting him to leave Bradford for Halifax.
The court was told that his mental health is fragile and his housing situation unstable.
Recorder Haslam imposed an eight-month prison term for the new offences and activated six months of an existing suspended sentence, making a total of 14 months behind bars.
He will serve up to half in custody before release on licence.
A 10-year Sexual Harm Prevention Order remains in force, and he must continue to comply with sex offender notification requirements for the same duration.
The court also ordered the confiscation of his mobile phone.
——————————————————————————————————-
