MICHAEL LIBBEY FROM EASINGTON SENTENCED FOR CHILD ABUSE IMAGES IN TEESSIDE

In August 2020, Michael Libbey, a man from Easington, found himself back in court amid ongoing concerns over his possession of illegal images and the police's inability to properly examine his electronic devices. The case highlighted the difficulties faced by law enforcement when evidence is compromised or destroyed, complicating efforts to prosecute offenders.

Libbey, aged 64 at the time, had previously been convicted in 2018 at Teesside Crown Court for possessing indecent images of children. The images depicted young children as young as five being subjected to abuse. During that trial, Libbey received a suspended prison sentence, a measure that allowed him to avoid immediate incarceration but imposed strict conditions on his behavior.

He had claimed during the earlier proceedings that his computer had been hacked, asserting that child sexual abuse images had appeared on his device without his knowledge. Despite these claims, he was ordered to adhere to a sexual harm prevention order (SHPO), which restricted his internet activity, and was placed on the sex offenders' register for a period of seven years.

Fast forward to a recent hearing at Teesside Magistrates Court in Middlesbrough, where Libbey appeared on a Tuesday afternoon. The court was informed that he had failed to provide his laptop for police examination on February 25, a critical breach of the conditions set by the court. Prosecutor Jonathan Hanratty explained that the police were unable to analyze the device because it had been