Hartlepool paedophile jailed for downloading indecent images of children even after he was arrested

Sean Anderson, 37, was charged by police after they discovered more than 6,000 indecent images of children on three mobile phones and two laptop computers in June and September 2019.

His sexual interest in children first came to light after he reported a tablet stolen from a guest house in Darlington where he was then living.

After being charged and pleading guilty in court, Anderson was bailed and came to live in Hartlepool.

But he continued to view sick material online and failed to tell police where he was living which he was required to do.

Victoria Lamballe, prosecuting, described how Anderson had added text to some of the images of children and also messaged other perverts by email and a messenger app.

In examining his seized devices, police also found two graphic lengthy stories he had written featuring a character named after himself.

Anderson pleaded guilty to three counts of possessing indecent images in June last year but failed to give his address at a police station within three days.

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Police turned up at his door in February when another 916 images viewed between October 2020 and February 21 this year were found on a laptop.

Anderson, of Queen Street, Seaton Carew, was jailed for 21 months at Teesside Crown Court after he admitted three additional counts of making indecent images and failure to comply with notification requirements.

Rob Mochrie, mitigating, said the probation service had identified Anderson as suitable for a sex offender treatment programme, available only if he was allowed to keep his freedom.

He said of Anderson’s repeated offending: “It may point to a man who has an inveterate interest in children who essentially couldn’t help himself.”

But the judge, Recorder Nicholas Lumley, said the sheer quantity of images, length over which he viewed them and encouragement he gave to others he was in contact with meant he had to be jailed.

Recorder Lumley told Anderson: “Your behaviour encourages others to carry out those vile acts against children.

"You give them a market and therefore you play a part in abusing children in the way depicted.”

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