A South Yorkshire pervert has been spared jail after he was caught with indecent images of children

Sheffield Crown Court heard yesterday, March 18, how Harvey Greene, aged 21, of Norwood Drive, Barnsley, was caught with the indecent images at his home after police arrested him in September 2018, and seized his mobile phone and laptop.

Gordon Stables, prosecuting, said: “Following the receipt of some intelligence relating to the viewing of indecent images at a certain Internet Protocol address officers attended this defendant’s address and arrested him.”

Police seized a mobile phone and a laptop, according to Mr Stables, and discovered 31 category A images, 25 category B images and 18 category C images with category A being the most serious.

Mr Stables added the majority of the images had been deleted and there had been an attempt to conceal images by placing them in a particular file path.

The images involved youngsters aged approximately between five and 12 and one appeared to show a child crying, according to Mr Stables.

Mr Stables said a chatroom communication was also found between Greene and someone believed to have been 15, but their age could not be confirmed.

Greene pleaded guilty to three counts of making indecent images of children and to attempting to sexually communicate with a child.

Tom Heath, defending, said Greene had been moving between college and university and was under a great deal of stress.

Mr Heath added Greene started watching adult pornography and became wrapped up in a cycle of viewing these indecent images.

However, he added Greene now understands the effect this kind of offending has on others and he has expressed remorse and apologises.

Judge Michael Slater told Greene: “Only after it has been pointed out to you, have you finally realised the misery and degradation that the victims of such images have to endure.”

He sentenced Greene to a two-year community order with a Horizon Treatment Programme and a Rehabilitation Activity Requirement.

Judge Slater accepted Greene has a prospect of rehabilitation but warned he faces custody if he breaches the order.

Greene was also made subject to a Sexual Harm Prevention Order for five years.