Subscribe to trusted local news
In a time of both misinformation and too much information, quality journalism is more crucial than ever. By subscribing, you can help us get the story right.
- Subscription costs less than £1 a week with an annual plan.
Already a subscriber? Log in here.
07
May
Harrogate man who downloaded hundreds of indecent images of children avoids jail
A Harrogate man who downloaded hundreds of indecent images of children over a four-year period has received a suspended prison sentence.
Melquisedec McCann, 36, downloaded 767 indecent images between 2017 and 2021.
The images included a combined 293 photos and videos rated Category A – the worst kind of such material featuring the sexual abuse of children, York Crown Court heard.
Prosecutor Brooke Morrison said police raided McCann’s home in October 2021 and seized several devices including a laptop, tablet and mobile phones.
“All but two of those were found to contain indecent images of children,” added Ms Morrison.
Forensic analysis of the devices revealed that McCann had downloaded 159 Category A images and 134 videos in the same category.
There were also 230 Category B images including videos, and 244 Category C images including nine videos. In addition, police found nine prohibited images of children.
The illicit images were recovered from files which McCann had deleted, said Ms Morrison.
Police found that McCann had also saved “internet bookmarks” on two social media pages indicative of paedophilia, and that he had used a “VPN proxy” to try to hide his nefarious online activities.
Following his arrest, he initially denied the offences and refused to disclose the PIN numbers for his devices. He also “refused to confirm any email accounts (and) usernames”.
He was quizzed by officers for a second time in May last year but refused to comment even after forensic results were presented to him.
McCann, of Woodfield Road, ultimately admitted three counts of making indecent images and one count of possessing prohibited images of children. He appeared for sentence today (May 7).
Defence barrister Sarah Hopkinson said that McCann, who was unemployed, had never been in trouble before.
Judge Simon Hickey gave McCann a 10-month prison sentence suspended for 18 months with 24 rehabilitation-activity days.
McCann was ordered to sign on the sex-offenders’ register for the next 10 years and made subject to a 10-year sexual-harm prevention order to curb his online activities.
1