A South Yorkshire pervert caught with indecent images has been spared jail

Sheffield Crown Court heard on October 22 how Keith Mawson, aged 59, of Jubilee Road, Doncaster, was subject to a Sexual Offences Protection Order from February 2009, after a conviction involving sexual offences with children resulting in a three-year custodial sentence.

Ian West, prosecuting, said: “Police received information in 2017 that this defendant was potentially involved with sexual images on the internet and they attended at his property and seized two devices and one computer tower.”

Police discovered 112 class A images, 86 class B images and 37 class C images, with class A being the most serious.

Further enquiries revealed another convicted sex offender had been visiting Mawson’s home to help the defendant with software which breached his SOPO.

Mawson admitted two counts of making indecent images from 2017 and he admitted breaching a SOPO by associating with a convicted sex offender.

Edward Moss, defending, said there had been a significant delay in bringing the case to a conclusion and the defendant suffers with poor health.

He added Mawson is no longer classed as an immediate risk and he can be safely monitored in the community.

Judge Michael Slater told Mawson: “Be under no illusion, had these offences been committed closer to the time of of sentencing, which is no fault of yours, you would be going to prison regardless of your medical conditions.”

He added Mawson has not committed any further offences in the meantime and he was therefore able to suspend his custodial sentence.

Judge Slater sentenced Mawson to 23 months of custody suspended for two years with a 43-day programme requirement and a Rehabilitation Activity Requirement.

Mawson was also placed under a Sexual Harm Prevention Order for five years and his previously imposed indefinite Sexual Offences Protection Order will remain in place.

Judge Slater told Mawson: “If you keep out of trouble and obey the conditions of the order for the next two years you shall hear nothing more about this but should you re-offend or not comply you are liable to be brought back.”

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