Paedophile Jailed Again After Police Find Indecent Images

Ian Hobley, 55, of Town Lane, Bebington, has been jailed for two years after police found indecent images of children on his electronic devices.

Hobley was found to be in breach of his Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO) when officers visited his home on Friday, October 6. They discovered an unregistered electronic device and upon reviewing it, found suspected indecent images of children.

A further examination of Hobley's devices revealed 450 images classed as Category A, 1,179 images in Categories B and C, and two Category A videos. He pleaded guilty to 11 offences involving making indecent images, possessing prohibited images, and three offences of breaching the SHPO.

Detective Inspector Steven O'Neill said: "Hobley was arrested after officers on a routine home visit as part of his SHPO found an electronic device that he hadn't registered with us. This led to the sickening discovery of explicit sexual images of children. Hobley pleaded guilty to the offences because the evidence was so strong against him."

O'Neill added: "Officers working in the Sex Offender Unit regularly conduct visits each month to ensure that offenders on the Sexual Offenders Register living in the community are closely monitored. Officers also work closely with partners in probation and housing to ensure that the public are protected and the risk of further offending is minimised."

This is not Hobley's first encounter with the law. He has previous convictions in 2003 and 2008 for indecent image offences.

A spokesperson for Merseyside Police said: "Sex offending has such a huge and terrible impact on victims, and we are determined to continue looking to innovative new ways of identifying repeat offenders at the earliest possible opportunity, to prevent young people coming to further harm from abuse and exploitation."