LEON EVANS FROM SALTNEY CAUGHT VIEWING CHILD ABUSE IMAGES IN CHESTER

In a serious case that has shocked the community of Saltney and Chester, Leon Evans, a 32-year-old resident of High Street, Saltney, has been sentenced to two years in prison after being found guilty of viewing indecent images of children. The conviction comes after a series of breaches of court orders and attempts to conceal his illegal activities.

Back in November 2015, Evans was initially spared immediate custody when he was found to possess over 3,000 images on his computer. At that time, the court decided that it would be more beneficial to help him address his issues rather than impose a harsher sentence, and he was placed under a sexual harm prevention order (SHPO) along with a suspended prison sentence. The judge believed that with proper support, Evans could be rehabilitated and that the public interest would be better served by focusing on his treatment.

However, the situation took a troubling turn when, despite engaging with probation services, Evans was discovered to have been secretly attempting to bypass the restrictions imposed on him. Prosecutor Anna Pope revealed that Evans had downloaded anti-forensic software, which is designed to erase or hide internet activity, making it difficult for authorities to track his online behavior. Furthermore, he accessed the dark web through specialized sites, which are often used to conceal illegal activities, without leaving traces that could be easily detected.

Police investigations also uncovered that Evans failed to notify authorities when he moved to a new address in Moorcroft Mews, Chester, which was a breach of his legal obligations. In October of the previous year, law enforcement received intelligence indicating that Evans was once again viewing images related to child abuse. Acting on this information, officers confronted him at his workplace, Mecca Bingo in Chester. During the confrontation, Evans denied any wrongdoing, claiming he was unaware of the allegations against him.

Further analysis of his computer revealed disturbing details. The device was linked to the alias ‘Jan Phillips,’ but investigators quickly determined this was a false identity. The actual name associated with the device was Leon Evans. The computer contained 126 images classified as Category C, which involves indecent images of children, and the files were named in a manner that suggested a specific interest in child abuse material.

In a subsequent police interview conducted in April of this year, Evans admitted to possessing the images and acknowledged that he had breached the terms of his suspended sentence and the 10-year SHPO. His defense lawyer, Brian Treadwell, emphasized that Evans had entered guilty pleas at the earliest opportunity and expressed his willingness to cooperate fully with probation services and seek help for his issues.

Judge Patrick Thompson delivered a stern verdict, describing Evans’ actions as a “determined and flagrant” attempt to evade the safeguards designed to protect the public. The judge pointed out that Evans had deliberately installed anti-forensic software, which is not something that comes with a standard computer purchase, implying premeditation and intent.

In sentencing Evans to 24 months in prison, the judge stated, “Those safeguards were put in place to protect the public from men like you who have an unhealthy and sick interest in children. I would advise you to change your attitude and get some help for what is clearly a sickening problem.”

Additionally, a new SHPO was imposed for a period of ten years, restricting Evans’ activities and monitoring his behavior. The sentence is structured so that he will serve half of it in prison and the remaining half on license within the community, under strict conditions aimed at preventing further offenses.