GREAT CHISHILL MAN JAILED FOR SHARING INDECENT IMAGES OF CHILDREN
A 43-year-old man from Great Chishill, near Royston, has been jailed for two years and four months after admitting to making and distributing indecent images of children and breaching court orders.
Mark Barnes, of Wallers Close, was found with multiple mobile phones and tablets when officers visited his home on 11th January 2024, breaching a sexual offences prevention order imposed in January 2014.
The investigation found that between July 2022 and March 2023, Barnes had distributed 14 category A (the most severe), five category B, and 25 category C images of children.
Over 2,000 indecent images that Barnes had made were also uncovered, including 628 category A images, 496 category B, and 1,163 category C.
While Barnes claimed he was borrowing one of the devices from a neighbour, police discovered another phone containing illegal material hidden in a suitcase under a bed.
Barnes appeared at Peterborough Crown Court on 4th November where he admitted to making and distributing indecent photographs of children, failing to comply with the Sex Offenders Register, and breaching a sexual offences prevention order.
He was jailed and issued an indefinite Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO), which bans him from owning devices with internet access, using remote storage devices like cloud storage, and imposes mandatory notification requirements indefinitely.
All the devices seized by police have been destroyed.
DC Andrew McKeane commented, 'Barnes was fully aware his actions were in breach of his SHPO but he chose to ignore it.
He showed a blatant disregard for the law and lied about owning the phones and tablets to protect himself.'
Court Outcome
Conviction and Sentencing Details
Sentenced
Detected legal outcome
A 43-year-old man from Great Chishill, near Royston, has been jailed for two years and four months after admitting to making and distributing indecent images of children and breaching court orders. Mark Barnes, of Wallers Close, was foun...
Prison sentence
two years and four months
A 43-year-old man from Great Chishill, near Royston, has been jailed for two years and four months after admitting to making and distributing indecent images of children and breaching court orders
Prison sentence
indefinitely
He was jailed and issued an indefinite Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO), which bans him from owning devices with internet access, using remote storage devices like cloud storage, and imposes mandatory notification requirements indefinitely
Court order
indefinitely
He was jailed and issued an indefinite Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO), which bans him from owning devices with internet access, using remote storage devices like cloud storage, and imposes mandatory notification requirements indefinitely
Court order
DC Andrew McKeane commented, 'Barnes was fully aware his actions were in breach of his SHPO but he chose to ignore it
