Harrogate paedophile, 76, jailed for online offences

A 76-year-old Harrogate paedophile has been jailed for downloading indecent images of children less than two weeks after receiving a suspended sentence for the exact same behaviour.

Michael Bell, of Firs Crescent, was arrested during a routine police inspection at his home to check he was complying with a court order to prevent him downloading more illicit images of minors, York Crown Court heard.

During the visit, the two officers found a Dropbox app on Bell’s computer which, when opened, revealed indecent images of children.

Prosecutor Kelly Clarke said Bell, a well spoken married father-of-two, had been subject to a sexual-harm prevention order to curb his online activities after receiving a 15-month suspended jail sentence at the same court on March 28 for making indecent images of all levels of depravity.

The protection order made it incumbent on the pensioner to make his computer devices available for inspection and delete any apps or software that could be used in the downloading of indecent material.

However, on the police’s very first visit to Bell’s home in Harrogate following the imposition of the suspended sentence, they found him to be in flagrant breach of the order.

Ms Clarke said the purpose of the home inspection, on April 10, was to check Bell’s computer devices and delete any prohibited apps that may still be on them.

The officers found a Dell computer in an upstairs bedroom on which a Dropbox app had been installed which, when opened, revealed three indecent images of children. One of the photos featured a half-naked girl between 11 and 13 years of age.

Bell was arrested and further devices were seized and analysed which revealed 39 indecent images of girls aged between nine and 15.

Forensic officers discovered that Bell had installed another app in early April which was also in breach of the order.

He was charged with making indecent images and breaching the sexual-harm order and ultimately admitted the offences. He appeared for sentence via video link today after being remanded in custody.

Defence barrister Daisy Wrigley said that, according to Bell, he “didn’t understand which software he was, or was not, allowed to have on his computer”.

She said the second app that Bell installed in April was a “media-streaming platform” which he had used to watch programmes and “view certain legal matters” while away in Lanzarote. “He now realises that he does need help,” she added.

She said that Bell had been seeing a counsellor about his online habits and now acknowledged the “harmful impact” his offending had on the children depicted in the sordid images.

Judge Simon Hickey, who imposed the original sentence in March, told the pensioner:

Bell was jailed for 14 months but will only serve half of that behind bars before being released on prison licence.  

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