JASON YOUNG FROM DURHAM CAUGHT VIEWING INDECENT IMAGES OF CHILDREN IN SHOCKING CRIME

In a disturbing case that has shocked the community of Durham, Jason Aaron Young, a 29-year-old man residing on Palmer Road in Newton Aycliffe, was found to have engaged in the viewing and possession of indecent images of children. The incident came to light during a routine police visit to his home on December 8 of the previous year, as part of ongoing efforts to monitor individuals subject to sexual harm prevention measures.

According to court reports, officers arrived at Young’s residence for a “risk management” check, a procedure often used to ensure compliance with court orders related to sexual offenses. When the officers knocked on his door, Young was found seated at his desktop computer. Despite being informed that the purpose of their visit was to inspect his computer equipment, he did not cease his activity. Instead, he appeared visibly distracted, continuing to use his device as the officers observed.

Subsequently, the police seized Young’s computer and other electronic devices for examination. The forensic analysis revealed a troubling collection of indecent images of children. A total of 309 such images were discovered, with 59 classified as the most serious category. Among these, 51 were videos depicting mainly male children aged between five and 16 years old. These images had been downloaded over a period stretching from March 19, 2019, up until the early hours of December 8, last year.

Further investigation uncovered that Young was not only viewing these images but also served as an administrator for online accounts that catered to users with sexual interests in underage males. This activity was in direct violation of a Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO) that had been imposed on him. The order, which was set to expire in July of this year, explicitly prohibited him from viewing or possessing indecent images of children under the age of 18.

Young’s criminal history includes a previous conviction from August 2012, when he received a 12-month sentence in a young offenders’ institution for making and distributing indecent images of children. The current case marked a breach of the terms of his SHPO, which he admitted to violating during a recent plea hearing. He pleaded guilty to three counts of making indecent images of children, all in breach of the court order.

During the hearing, Judge James Adkin described the material Young had viewed as “utterly repellent.” The judge emphasized the broader implications of such behavior, stating, “You don’t seem to understand, but individuals like you provide a market, so people continue to film such images, so you indirectly contribute to further abuse of young people.”

In sentencing, Judge Adkin sentenced Young to one year in prison. Additionally, he ordered that Young be subject to a new Sexual Harm Prevention Order and be registered as a sex offender for the next ten years. The judge’s remarks underscored the seriousness of the offense and the ongoing risk posed by individuals involved in such activities.

Earlier in January 2021, Young had admitted to downloading indecent images of children for a second time, which further compounded his legal troubles. He was found to have 309 images downloaded between December 1 and 8 of the previous year, again breaching the existing SHPO. His legal counsel, Alex Menary, requested a delay in sentencing to allow for a comprehensive probation report to be prepared, citing that Young had been out of trouble for some time and had previously completed sex offender treatment programs after his 2011 conviction.

Judge Adkin agreed to the request, ordering the probation service to assess the risk of reoffending. Young remains in custody and is scheduled for sentencing on February 16, where the court will determine the final penalties for his repeated offenses.