February 2019 Days after being released from custody, Rhyl teenager tried to trade indecent images of children A Rhyl teenager tried to trade indecent images off children days after being released from custody for similar offences, a court heard. Cameron Meaden, 18, used a messaging app on his mobile phone to discuss exchanging perverted images, but he was caught by police who went to his home with a warrant. Mold Crown Court heard that Meaden had a diagnosis of autism which it was claimed was linked to his offending. Judge David Hale spared him another stint at a young offenders’ institute by suspending his 18-month custodial sentence for two years, although he admitted he was not convinced that Meaden’s condition was completely to blame for his actions. The judge warned him: “This is not a let-off as if you are caught viewing images like this in the next two years the sentence will start at 18 months and your phones and computers will be monitored. “You didn’t learn your lesson and you were on licence at the time. You also hid behind saying you were trying to catch other paedophiles, but you now admit you had a sexual interest in these images.” Meaden was ordered to undergo 60 sessions within a sex offenders’ programme as part of his sentence and he was placed under a Sexual Harm Prevention Order for 10 years. Prosecuting barrister Simon Mintz told the court Meaden had served a 12-month custodial sentence for similar offences, but police executing a warrant at his home last September seized his mobile phone. On it indecent images of children were found as well as the messaging app which offered a high degree of anonymity. The teenager had used it to discuss trading indecent images of children. He was also found to have used Instagram to discuss exchanging images. Among the images found included some of children as young as 18 months old. “From July to September there is evidence showing his interest in indecent images, particularly those that are incestuous,” added Mr Mintz. Meaden, of Victoria Road, Rhyl pleaded guilty to three counts of making indecent images of children, three counts of distributing indecent images of children, one count of having prohibited images of children and one count of possessing extreme pornography. Meaden will also have to sign the Sex Offenders’ Register for 10 years and he was told to pay a £140 victim surcharge.