ALAN HAWKINS OF NORTH SHIELDS SENTENCED AGAIN AFTER ILLEGAL IMAGE DISCOVERY

ALAN HAWKINS OF NORTH SHIELDS SENTENCED AGAIN AFTER ILLEGAL IMAGE DISCOVERY

Alan Hawkins, a resident of North Shields, has a history of criminal convictions related to indecent assault and the possession and distribution of indecent images.

A serial offender has been sent back to prison after police found an indecent image of boys on his phone.

Hawkins, aged 57 and living on Saville Street West, North Shields, has previously served time for various offenses.

The court was informed that he had 23 prior convictions, including an 18-month sentence in 1997 for indecent assault, a five-year term in 2008 for possession and distribution of indecent images, a three-year sentence in 2018 for possessing indecent images, and a suspended sentence last June for breaching a sexual harm prevention order.

In September, police visited Hawkins' home and, during the investigation, examined his phone.

The first photo found in his gallery was an indecent image of boys, which was classified as the most serious type, category A.

This discovery led to his latest imprisonment.

The incident was reported to have occurred on September 30, when officers attended his address and identified the recent offense.

Hawkins has now been jailed at Newcastle Crown Court for this latest breach.