Downloading vile indecent images of children.

Bedfordshire Man Jailed for Indecent Images

A Bedfordshire man has been sentenced to three years in prison for downloading indecent images of children. Michael Johnson, 73, of Park Street, Dunstable, pleaded guilty to three counts of making indecent photographs of children and six counts of breaching his Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO).

Johnson, previously registered as a sex offender, had received a suspended two-year jail sentence for previous offenses related to indecent images of children. He was also subject to a SHPO that prohibited him from owning unregistered devices or downloading file-sharing software.

During a routine visit in November 2021, Deborah Simpson from Bedfordshire Police's offender management team discovered suspicious software on Johnson's computer. A subsequent search of the device uncovered indecent images of children, strikingly similar to those found in his possession during previous investigations.

In March 2022, Bedfordshire Police's cyber teams conducted a further enforcement action, assisted by a specialist digital media dog. This search led to the discovery and seizure of 12 unregistered devices belonging to Johnson, resulting in an additional charge of breaching his SHPO.

At Luton Crown Court on Thursday, August 25, Johnson was sentenced to three years in prison. His previous suspended sentence was activated, and he will remain on the sex offenders register for life.

Investigating officer Deborah Simpson stated, "Johnson derived sexual gratification from accessing images of the most abhorrent nature involving very young children. He has shown no remorse for his actions and has repeatedly engaged in this behavior, disregarding the prevention plan put in place."