Judge issues "no mercy" warning to Sheffield man who downloaded hundreds of indecent images
“One step out of line, just one, and that’s it - prison”
A paedophile who downloaded hundreds of indecent images of children has been warned “never do this again” by Sheffield’s highest-ranking judge.
The Recorder of Sheffield, Judge Jeremy Richardson KC, gave the stern warning when he sentenced Simon Dove, adding that if he is charged for this type of offence again there would be “no mercy.”
The 36-year-old was arrested in 2022 after police were made aware of his online activity.
Both his phone and computer were seized and 278 indecent images were discovered.
The images were gathered between January 2017 and October 2022, with Dove subject to a sexual harm prevention order at the start of the offending for a previous conviction in 2012.
“I make it clear at the outset of these sentencing remarks to you that when I saw you had a previous conviction in 2012 for almost identical offending my immediate, initial thought was that this is a case that demands a custodial sentence and that sentence could not be suspended,” Judge Richardson told the court.
“Individuals who repeat this form of criminality normally go to prison immediately.”
But, after considering mitigating factors put forward by Dove’s barrister, the judge said Dove avoided prison by “the skin of his teeth.”
Prior to his arrest, Dove reached out to the Lucy Faithfull Foundation - which offers services to prevent child sexual abuse - and has since undergone therapy.
Dove has also sought support from a number of groups and been diagnosed with autism.
Earlier this year, he pleaded guilty to all charges.
Judge Richardson added: “It appears you have endured much that is adverse during your life.
“You became addicted, so it would seem, to pornography at a young age”
“Putting all that together, it resulted in you indulging in the perverted sexual activity referable to this case.”
Dove was sentenced to 16 months’ imprisonment suspended for two years.
“I have come to the conclusion that it is by far in the public interest that someone like you is rehabilitated and pulled away from the perversions ingrained in your mind,” the judge said.
“I repeat, one step out of line, just one, and that’s it - prison,” he added.
Dove will be placed on the sex offenders’ register for 10 years and is subject to a sexual harm prevention order.
The defendant nodded as Judge Richardson said: “Don’t let me down and perhaps more importantly, don’t let yourself down.”
Before Dove was let out of the docks, the judge added: “Never do this again, never. If you do, you know the consequences - there will be no mercy shown to you.”