DAVID ANDREWS SENT TO PRISON IN PLYMOUTH AND PAIGNTON FOR CHILD INDECENT IMAGE OFFENSES

A man named David Andrews, who previously avoided jail in 2019 after admitting to possessing thousands of indecent images of children, has now been sentenced to prison after he relapsed into his harmful behavior. Andrews, originally from Ivybridge but now residing in Paignton, appeared before Plymouth Crown Court to face multiple serious charges related to child exploitation.

The court heard that between January 2021 and February 2022, Andrews was involved in the distribution of 28 indecent images of children, categorized as Category A, B, and C, with Category A being the most severe. This distribution was part of his ongoing engagement with illegal material depicting child abuse. Additionally, Andrews was charged with breaching a 10-year Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO) that had been imposed following his previous conviction in 2019. The breach involved him being found in possession of a Nokia mobile phone and a USB memory stick, devices he was prohibited from possessing without prior police notification.

Further charges included making five indecent images of children of Category B and 19 of Category C. Andrews pleaded guilty to all four charges, acknowledging his involvement in these offenses. The court also learned that Andrews, aged 69, had violated a suspended sentence imposed on July 11, 2019, which was a 24-month prison sentence suspended for 24 months. This previous sentence was handed down after his earlier arrest for possessing over 13,000 vile images of children, including babies being raped. At that time, Andrews, a former Royal Mail worker and former Special Constable, claimed he saw no harm in his actions.

Prosecutor Francesca Whebell explained that police were alerted to Andrews’ activities after the National Crime Agency flagged the posting of images from an IP address linked to a property in Ivybridge associated with Andrews. Additional evidence came from an email account that had posted Category A, B, and C images of children, also linked to Andrews and his Nokia phone. Following these alerts, police executed a warrant at Andrews’ residence in February 2022, seizing multiple electronic devices. During police interviews, Andrews reportedly stated, "It's my secret and I hate it."

In mitigation, Andrews’ defense lawyer, Deni Matthews, highlighted Andrews’ struggles with addiction, drawing an analogy to others who face similar battles. Matthews emphasized that many individuals who commit such offenses do so because they are unable to resist certain behaviors, and that overcoming such issues often requires multiple attempts. He also pointed out that Andrews expressed feelings of “repulsion” towards his own conduct.

The lawyer further detailed Andrews’ background, describing him as a “hard working” man who had enjoyed success in various careers, including military service. He noted that Andrews had lost his relationship with his wife and one of his sons as a consequence of his previous conviction. The court was also informed that Andrews had lost his job as a cleaner and now lived in a sparsely furnished flat.

Judge Peter Johnson addressed the court, referencing Andrews’ prior offenses and the suspended sentence he received in 2019. The judge acknowledged that Andrews appeared to be making some progress but emphasized that he still struggled with an addiction to these images. The court was told that Andrews had admitted to police that the material was his “problem” and a “secret he had,” later telling probation officers that it was “your secret and [that] you hated it.”

Judge Johnson remarked that Andrews had hoped to turn his life around but had unfortunately succumbed to temptation again, as he openly admitted. The court noted that Andrews had been deleting material from his devices, indicating an awareness of the severity of his actions. While recognizing Andrews’ service to his country and community, the judge also highlighted the profound harm caused to victims, including children under the age of 10, some as young as five, depicted in the images.

The judge emphasized that online activity involving such images has real-world consequences, stating, “It does — it’s as simple as that.” Considering the sentencing guidelines, Andrews’ early guilty plea, and the aggravating and mitigating circumstances, Judge Johnson sentenced him to three and a half years in prison. He was to serve half of this sentence before being eligible for release on license. Additionally, Andrews was ordered to be subject to a new 10-year Sexual Harm Prevention Order, and his electronic devices, including the telephone and USB stick, were to be confiscated and destroyed. He was also placed on the Sex Offenders Register for life.

This case underscores the ongoing efforts of law enforcement agencies to combat child exploitation and the serious consequences faced by individuals who engage in such heinous activities, even after previous convictions and court orders.