September 2020 Preston paedophile pensioner failed to disclose his web enabled smart TV A 77-year-old man has appeared in court after he didn’t tell police about two electronic internet enabled devices Joseph Riley, 77, moved to accommodation on Great Shaw Street, Preston, after West Lancashire Council turfed him out of his council flat in Skelmersdale in 2017 following his conviction for possessing images of child abuse. Beth Pilling, prosecuting, said on August 3, 2019, Riley failed to disclose a device capable of accessing the internet to officers, in breach of a sexual harm prevention order made by Liverpool Crown Court in May 2016. He is further charged with a similar offence on October 25, 2019, when he failed to disclose a device capable of retaining digital images. She added: “Police attended on a routine visit and asked for his devices. “He submits a phone which contains a pornographic image – not involving children – taken from a TV screen. They’ve then enquired about a smart TV in the property, which can access the internet “We then move to October 25, again a routine check. He hands over a phone on that occasion and a laptop and a hard drive. There was nothing on those devices, but what follows is he failed to hand over a Fuji camera which was capable of storing digital images.” Riley was previously convicted of four counts of making indecent images of children and one of possessing an indecent photograph of children. All the images were deemed category A – the most serious in law. At that time he was sentenced to eight months imprisonment, suspended for 24 months, given two years supervision, and ordered to attend a sexual offender’s Programme. He was made subject to a five-year sexual harm prevention order – which he is now in breach of – and ordered sign the Sex Offender’s Register for a decade. He was given a further six month suspended sentence last year over possessing further indecent images. Imposing a 12 month conditional discharge, Judge Beverly Lunt accepted it was a low level breach and said: “This was stupid Mr Riley, it really was stupid – there was nothing on any of this, you could have shown them everything. “The other orders still apply, you know that don’t you?” He mumbled: ” I’ve learned my lesson, thank you.” June 2017 Skelmersdale council tenant evicted after he was convicted of child abuse images offences W. Lancs Council has made its first use of new powers to evict a 73-year-old man from his sheltered housing flat in Skelmersdale after he was convicted of child porn offences. Wigan County Court heard that Joseph Riley, formerly of Beechwood Court, Birkrig, Digmoor, had been convicted at Liverpool Crown Court of four counts of making indecent photographs or pseudo photographs of children and one count of possessing an indecent photograph or pseudo photograph of children. The images were all level A, the highest-rated classification. He was sentenced to eight months imprisonment, suspended for 24 months, given a two-year supervision order, and ordered to attend an Internet sexual offending programme. A five-year sexual harm prevention order and a 10-year sex offenders notice were also granted against him, along with a forfeiture order for all his computer equipment. The offences were so serious that they gave the council grounds to take action to repossess the property under the Anti-Social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014 and evict Mr Riley. This was the first time the authority had used these powers and the county court granted possession of the property, a flat in a sheltered accommodation block, to the council at the hearing on May 22. Mr Riley, who was not at the county court hearing, handed the keys back to the council on May 26. Jacqui Sinnott-Lacey, the council’s director of housing and inclusion, said: “As a landlord the council simply will not tolerate tenants committing crimes in our properties. “The council has a variety of powers available to evict tenants convicted of criminal offences and we will choose the most effective method in each case. “The council has a responsibility to protect its tenants and their guests, who in this case were often young children as well as others living in the community. “As such, seeking possession under the Anti-Social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014 confirms the seriousness of the situation.”