A paedophile threw a mobile phone containing indecent images of children onto the roof of a garden shed when police came knocking at his door.
Liverpool Crown Court heard on Thursday, that officers raided Sean Melvin's address at around 7.45am on June 8, 2021 and seized an iPhone found in a drawer beside the bed where he had been sleeping. Sarah Holt, prosecuting, described how the 34-year-old stated he had another mobile in an upstairs bedroom when asked if he had any further devices.
This could not be located however, and when the PCs dialled the number they could hear it ringing outside the property. The phone was then discovered on the roof of the garden shed, Melvin having gone outside when the police arrived and "tried to conceal the mobile device unsuccessfully".
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Indecent images of children aged between eight and 12 were subsequently discovered on both phones, as well as a stash of extreme pornographic images involving animals. In total, the pervert had 42 pictures graded in category A – those showing the most serious forms of abuse.
Melvin – formerly of Afton in Widnes, but now of Goschen Street in Blyth, Northumberland – had also collected 44 photographs in category B and 55 in category C, as well as 45 extreme images. Carmel Wilde, defending, told the court: "The risk of Mr Melvin can be managed in the community."
The defendant admitted possession of indecent images, three counts of making indecent images and possession on extreme pornographic images. Melvin was handed a 10-month imprisonment suspend for two years as well as a rehabilitation activity requirement of up to 30 days and a programme requirement.
Sentencing, Judge Anil Murray said: "You have quite a bad record, but nothing for sexual offences and nothing for 10 years now. This was some time ago and you have made positive changes to your life.
"You are addressing your addictions. You are not thought to be a risk to the public – you are thought to be a realistic prospect of rehabilitation and you have some strong personal mitigation, so I am able to suspend this sentence."
Melvin was also given a 10-year notification requirement and told to serve a sexual harm prevention order lasting the same period. He will be required to pay court costs of £145 and a victim surcharge, with forfeiture of the seized phones ordered.
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