FLEETWOOD MAN MICHAEL HARRISON JAILED FOR CHILD INDECENT IMAGES IN BLACKPOOL

In a case that has sent shockwaves through the Fleetwood community and the wider Blackpool area, Michael Harrison, aged 25, has been sentenced to a year in prison after being found guilty of possessing indecent images of children. The incident unfolded in May of the previous year when police officers on patrol in Blackpool’s High Street area encountered Harrison, who was already subject to a sexual offences prevention order.

Officers recognized Harrison and knew of his legal restrictions, which mandated that he allow police access to any device capable of internet use. During the encounter, Harrison produced a mobile phone from his pocket, claiming it belonged to a friend and insisting he did not use it for internet browsing. Initially, police found no images on the device, but a search revealed a concerning search term related to pre-teen sexual activity involving boys.

Despite the initial lack of evidence, further investigation into the phone uncovered a total of 32 indecent images, including 15 classified as the most serious category. Most of these images depicted boys aged approximately 11 or 12 years old. Harrison was not immediately arrested at that time but was later detained in March of this year, during which he admitted to his involvement and expressed the belief that the individuals in the images were over 18.

Harrison’s criminal record includes a previous conviction from 2011 for possessing indecent photographs, as well as multiple breaches of his sexual offences prevention order and failure to comply with notification requirements. His history indicates ongoing issues with compliance and behavior related to sexual offences.

During the court proceedings at Preston Crown Court, the prosecution, led by David Traynor, highlighted Harrison’s known history and the fact that he was under a sexual offences prevention order at the time of the incident. The defense, represented by Jacob Dyer, argued that Harrison had accessed only a small number of images and that he had not possessed them for long. Dyer also noted that Harrison was intoxicated when stopped by police and that the images were viewed alone at his home, with no evidence of sharing or distribution.

He further explained that Harrison’s life was in disarray at the time, describing him as lacking stability and acknowledging that he recognizes he has a problem but has yet to fully address it. The defense emphasized that Harrison does not pose a direct physical threat to children, suggesting that his risk level is manageable.

However, Judge Recorder John Jones QC was less lenient, stating that Harrison had failed to learn from past mistakes and continued to behave in a manner that endangered children. As part of his sentence, Harrison will remain on a sexual offences prevention order until further notice and will be registered on the Sex Offenders’ Register for the next ten years, reflecting the seriousness of his offences and the ongoing risk he poses to the community.