MICHAEL LARSEN FROM KRISTENSON CHARGED WITH CHILD ABUSE IMAGE OFFENSES IN CHESTER

In October 2018, a man from Chester, identified as Michael Larsen, has admitted to viewing and downloading additional indecent images of children, further implicating him in ongoing concerns related to child exploitation. Larsen, aged 63, appeared before Chester Magistrates Court where he pleaded guilty to four separate charges. These charges included two violations of a sexual harm prevention order (SHPO) and failure to comply with the requirement to sign the sex offenders register during the months of March and April of that year.

The court proceedings revealed that earlier this year, a police officer conducted an unannounced visit to Larsen's residence on New Crane Street in Chester. The purpose of the visit was to verify whether Larsen was adhering to the conditions set out in his existing SHPO. During this inspection, the officer observed a mobile phone in Larsen’s possession. Subsequent investigations confirmed that this device had been used to access websites containing child pornography.

Further evidence presented in court indicated that Larsen had taken deliberate steps to conceal his online activities. It was found that he had deleted his internet browsing history and employed software designed to obscure his internet protocol (IP) address, making it more difficult for authorities to track his online behavior. Prosecutor Alan Currums explained that these actions constituted clear breaches of the SHPO, which had been originally issued in March 2015 following Larsen’s previous conviction for multiple offenses involving photographs of children.

At that time, Larsen was subjected to a 10-year SHPO and was ordered to register as a sex offender for the same period. The current case was subsequently transferred to Chester Crown Court for sentencing, scheduled for October 26. Until then, Larsen, who resides at New Crane Street, was granted unconditional bail. The court’s decision underscores the ongoing legal process and the serious nature of the violations committed by Larsen, highlighting the continued efforts of law enforcement to monitor and prosecute individuals involved in child exploitation crimes.