Paedophile's Cover Story Busted by Ringtone

Leon Clark, a 46-year-old resident of Wirral, attempted to deceive police by claiming he had sold the mobile phone linked to his home and child abuse images. However, his lie was quickly exposed when officers heard the phone ringing during a search of his home.

Police had raided Clark's residence in June 2020 after his email address and phone number were connected to the property. While denying the possession of indecent images of children, Clark maintained that he had sold his phone. Nevertheless, officers discovered the phone hidden behind a radiator, revealing the truth behind his claim.

Examination of the recovered phone unveiled numerous indecent images of children, including disturbing images of a young girl estimated to be around three years old. Clark's history of criminal activity includes 39 convictions for 88 offenses, including a two-year prison sentence in 2010 for sexually assaulting a girl under 13 and downloading indecent images of children.

Clark pleaded guilty to possessing 58 indecent images and three offenses of making indecent images of children over the previous three months. While his defense argued that previous failures to comply with the Sex Offenders Register were due to homelessness, the court recognized Clark's extensive criminal record and lack of genuine remorse.

Judge Neil Flewitt, QC, sentenced Clark to 18 months in prison, activating a previous 16-week suspended sentence for breaching the Sex Offenders Register. While acknowledging the relatively small number of indecent images found, the judge emphasized Clark's history of criminal behavior and the risk he posed to children.

Clark was also ordered to sign the Sex Offenders Register for ten years and subject to a Sexual Harm Prevention Order for the same period. The judge expressed hope that the order would encourage Clark to change his attitude and reduce the risk to children.