LEEDS MAN JAILED FOR DOWNLOADING CHILD ABUSE IMAGES WHILE AWAITING SENTENCING
A depraved individual continued to download obscene images of children while awaiting trial for similar offenses.Andrew Hutchinson had already confessed to possessing inappropriate images of minors in 2022, but Bradford Crown Court was informed on Friday that he was actively downloading more disturbing material in the month leading up to his sentencing.
In October 2022, public protection officers visited his residence and seized devices that later contained over 1,600 illicit images.
Before this discovery, Hutchinson, who now resides on Linden Road, Beeston, Leeds, had been handed a 12-month prison sentence, suspended for 21 months, by the court in November 2022.
As part of his sentence, Hutchinson, now aged 50, was required to adhere to the conditions of a Sexual Harm Prevention Order, but nine months later, a further search uncovered an undisclosed laptop and more than 1,300 additional indecent images.
Initially, Hutchinson denied charges of possessing child pornography and violating the Sexual Harm Prevention Order, but in April of this year, he admitted to the offenses.
On Friday, Recorder Abdul Iqbal sentenced him to 34 months in prison, stating that an immediate custodial sentence was necessary, fair, and justified.
The judge emphasized that offenders like Hutchinson contribute to the global problem of child sexual abuse.
He explained that at the time Hutchinson was given his suspended sentence in 2022, the main justification was his previously good character and the hope that supervision could mitigate his risk.
“However, what has unfolded is that during the period of your prosecution, you continued to engage in the same conduct,” the judge remarked.
Hutchinson, who will serve half of his 34-month sentence, will also be required to register as a sex offender with authorities for an indefinite period.
