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09
Mar
Ripon man admits making indecent images of children
A Ripon man has admitted making indecent images of children and attempting to engage in sexual communications with a child.
Kevin Hill, of Ash Bank Close, appeared before Harrogate Magistrates Court on Thursday (March 5).
Hill, 55, pleaded guilty to three counts of making indecent images of a child and one count of attempting to engage in sexual communication with a child.
Sarah Tyrer, prosecuting, said the offences date back to September 2024, when police identified a man engaging with a decoy profile of a 12-year-old girl.
Ms Tyrer said that Hill had conversations with the “girl”, including making plans to meet with them.
She said:
Mr Hill engaged with this profile on September 18, 2024, making plans to meet the child at his home address.
However, this did not happen as he broke off the engagement.
Police identified Hill, but he was not arrested until November 5, 2024, as he was working abroad, the court heard.
Ms Tyrer said during police interview, the 55-year-old said “as soon as he realised” the “girl” was 12-years-old he did not continue the conversation.
Officers seized Hill’s devices, including his mobile phone, where they found indecent images of children.
The court heard that three category A images — which is the most serious kind — were found, as well as three category B images and five category C images.
Michelle Stewart, defending, told the court that the chat with the decoy profile happened on a “fantasy chat site”.
She said that Hill messaged the profile “believing the individual to be over the age of 18”.
Ms Stewart said:
There was some discussion of a sexual nature, but he stopped the chat so that no meeting or communication could take place.
Ms Stewart added that the indecent images were sent on the chat site and that Hill “looked at them a couple of times”.
She said that some of the images were found in the cache of his browser, but that Hill accepted that they were “in affect” saved onto his device.
Ms Stewart told the court that at the time of the offences Hill was going through a lot of “personal stress and turmoil”, including his mother being ill.
She added that the 55-year-old had no previous convictions and had subsequently had to seek out an alternative career due to the charges.
Magistrates adjourned the case to be sentenced at York Crown Court on March 26.
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