Description
Booth jailed for 38 months over indecent images and SHPO breaches
A man known as Booth has been sentenced to 38 months’ immediate imprisonment after being convicted of possessing indecent images of children and breaching a Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO).
The indecent images offence involved 93 printed pictures, mainly of females aged around ten, which had been hidden inside the pages of magazines at his home. The SHPO breaches came to light when police discovered a mobile phone wrapped in aluminium foil. The device contained software capable of hiding his identity and concealing his internet use.
Prosecutor Mr Wilson told the court that Booth had a significant history of similar offending. This included convictions for indecent images of children in 2004, indecent images and an SHPO breach in 2006, a further SHPO breach and indecent images in 2015, and the 2018 offences that led to his most recent SHPO. Each had resulted in a custodial sentence.
Defending, Ryan Rothwell referred to the pre-sentence report, saying: “I am afraid it doesn’t make for the brightest reading. Nor does his record, or these offences.” He acknowledged the seriousness of the behaviour and accepted that immediate custody was likely. Booth had been recalled to serve the licence period of his eight-year 2018 sentence and, after completing it, had spent three months on remand for the current matters, which would count towards any new sentence. Mr Rothwell invited the court to impose concurrent terms, citing totality.
Sentencing, Mr Recorder Paul Lewis said he was “wholly satisfied” that Booth had installed the software in order to “conceal from the authorities your determined and continued hunt for illicit and indecent imagery.”
In addition to the 38-month custodial term, Booth must pay a £228 victim surcharge within six months of release. The judge indicated he is likely to serve up to half the sentence in custody before release on licence.