A paedophile kept a "dirty phone" which he used to look at vile images after getting drunk.
James Cavanagh had been spared prison for sex offences only months before he was caught again, having deleted his internet history "in a panic". Now convicted of such crimes three times, the pervert sought to blame his sick behaviour on the Hillsborough disaster.
Liverpool Crown Court heard this afternoon, Wednesday, that the 46-year-old was subjected to a 10-year sexual harm prevention order in October 2021 – when he also received a nine-month imprisonment suspended for two years for making indecent images. This SHPO banned him from deleting his internet history and requires him to hand over any electronic device he owns when asked to do so by the police.
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But Nardeen Nemat, prosecuting, described how officers then visited his home on Tollerton Road in West Derby on May 17 last year. Cavanagh produced a Samsung Galaxy mobile phone and a GeoBook laptop for inspection on this occasion.
Graphic search terms concerning "schoolgirls" were found on the phone, while its internet history only dated back less than two weeks to May 4 2022. When challenged about this, the defendant confessed that he "must have deleted it".
Similarly, such data on the computer only went back to May 6. Cavanagh was then asked if he had any further electronics, and handed over another Android phone saying: "I use this for viewing.
"This is the one I view on. I look at things when I'm drunk, then I panic and delete them."
Further worrying searches of the internet had been conducted, with terms highlighted including "barely legal" and "young innocent". Under interview, Cavanagh admitted deleting his internet history "in a panic" and said this was "his dirty phone which he used to watch porn".
The pervert previously found himself in front of a judge for possession of indecent images in 2005. He received 27 months in prison at this time, having also been convicted of possession of a class A drug with intent to supply.
Paul Becker, defending, told the court that his client had "lost a number of friends to suicide" and said his offending came around the anniversary of the Hillsborough disaster – which he described as a "difficult time for him". Cavanagh was also said to be "in poor health due to epilepsy".
Mr Becker added: "Perhaps Mr Cavanagh faces an uphill struggle today to persuade your honour to give him a further chance. He is indicating that he does have mental health problems.
"It may well be his addiction to behaviour like this, which is what it is, because it is his third time now, is linked to some sort of mental health difficulty. It may well be he would benefit from intervention.
"He has taken some steps to reduce his alcohol and drug use. It may be that if given help and assistance, it will stop his offending."
Cavanagh admitted two counts of breaching a sexual harm prevention order during an earlier hearing. He was jailed for 18 months.
Sentencing, Judge Brian Cummings KC said: "The breaches were serious breaches. This occurred shortly after the order was made, less than seven months into the 10-year period.
"I accept there was some positive engagement with other aspects of the suspended sentence order. Reference has been made to mental health considerations.
"It is not entirely clear to me why you haven't sought medical assistance yourself. You are an adult."
Judge Cummings also ordered the forfeiture of the seized devices. Merseyside Police told the ECHO they did not have a custody picture of Cavanagh.
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