SEAN MELVIN

MAN THREW PHONE ONTO GARDEN SHED ROOF WHEN POLICE CAME KNOCKING

A man with a history of sexual offences discarded a mobile phone containing illegal images of children by throwing it onto the roof of a garden shed when authorities arrived at his home.

According to court records at Liverpool Crown Court on Thursday, police executed a search at Sean Melvin's residence around 7:45 a.m.

on June 8, 2021, and recovered an iPhone from a drawer beside his bed, where he had been sleeping.

Prosecutor Sarah Holt stated that Melvin claimed he had another phone upstairs when asked about additional devices.

However, this second phone could not be located, and when officers dialed its number, they heard it ringing outside the property.

The phone was later found on the roof of a garden shed, with Melvin having gone outside after police arrived in an attempt to hide the device, which failed.

The investigation uncovered images of children aged between eight and 12 on both phones, along with a collection of extreme pornography involving animals.

In total, Melvin possessed 42 Category A images those depicting the most severe abuse.

Previously residing in Afton, Widnes, Melvin is now based on Goschen Street, Blyth, Northumberland.

Authorities also found 44 photographs in Category B, 55 in Category C, and 45 extreme images.

Carmel Wilde, defending, told the court, "The risk posed by Mr Melvin can be managed within the community." Melvin admitted to possessing indecent images, creating indecent images on three occasions, and possessing extreme pornographic material.

He received a 10-month prison sentence, suspended for two years, along with requirements for up to 30 days of rehabilitation activities and a separate program.

Judge Anil Murray, delivering the sentence, remarked, "You have quite a bad record, but nothing for sexual offences and nothing for 10 years now.

This was some time ago and you have made positive changes to your life." He added, "You are addressing your addictions.

You are not thought to be a risk to the public - you are thought to be a realistic prospect of rehabilitation and you have some strong personal mitigation, so I am able to suspend this sentence." Melvin was also ordered to comply with a 10-year sexual harm prevention order, serve a notification requirement for the same period, pay court costs of £145 and a victim surcharge, and have the seized phones forfeited.