October 2021 Carlisle sex offender back behind bars A HIGH-risk Carlisle sex offender with a history of viewing child abuse images has committed similar offences again. At the city’s Crown Court, a prosecutor outlined how Neil Monkhouse, 37, had used software which led to the deletion of more than 1,800 images from his phone, as well as a number of WhatsApp exchanges. The defendant, formerly of Ivory Close, Carlisle, admitted six offences. They were two counts of downloading indecent images of children – assessed as category B and C; three counts of distributing such images; and breaching a sexual harm prevention order. Gerard Rogerson, prosecuting, said the defendant was first put before the court in February, 2018. On that occasion, he was prosecuted for possessing and distributing illegal child abuse images. As a result, he was made subject to a sexual harm prevention order, which included a requirement to have police monitoring software on all of his internet enabled devices. But within a few months of his previous community order finishing – an order that included a sex offender treatment programme – Monkhouse was again seeking out and sharing indecent images of children on the internet. The court heard that he used specialist software to “clean” content from his phone and computer. Mr Rogerson said that an in-depth analysis of the defendant’s Samsung phone showed that 1,835 images had been deleted. Also deleted were 162 contacts, 24 web searches, eight documents, four WhatsApp call threads, nine emails and a number of messages. The Probation Service had assessed the defendant as “high risk”, added the prosecutor. Mark Shepherd, for Monkhouse, said that the defendant was “afflicted” by his desire to view child abuse images. “It’s something that treatment hasn’t cured,” said Mr Shepherd. The lawyer told the court that the defendant’s previous convictions for similar offences had led to him being threatened. The defendant, who was “significantly disabled” and had mobility problems, was now homeless as a result of his offending. Judge Nicholas Barker told the defendant: “In many ways, the story of these offences began in February, 2018, when you appeared before this court for possessing and distributing images – the self same offences for which you appear today.” At the time, the defendant was thought to have a reasonable prospect of rehabilitation. He also completed a sex offender treatment programme. The judge added: “The order came to a conclusion on February 15, 2021, but by June of this year, only a matter of months after the completion of the order, you have committed these offences.” “You have continued with your unhealthy and concerning sexual interest in children.” The judge jailed Monkhouse for 18 months, and ruled that he will be on the Sex Offender Register for a decade. If he continues to commit such offences, said the judge, the sentences will get longer and longer. February 2018 Carlisle man who distributed “appalling” child sex abuse images sentenced A pervert who distributed indecent images of children to others has been spared prison after a judge concluded his treatment in the community would better protect youngsters in the future. Carlisle Crown Court heard how illegal images of children aged from 12 years down to just two were found on devices belonging to 33-year-old city man Neil Monkhouse. Police discovered that, between July 4 and 11 last year, Monkhouse had made 28 child porn pictures and passed on 39. Officers also found five cannabis plants growing at his house. Monkhouse, of Hallin Crescent, Carlisle, was sentenced today (FRI) having admitted nine charges, including the making and distribution of indecent photographs of children, and cannabis production. Wheelchair-using Monkhouse was said by his lawyer to have “sought comfort and solace online” amid the loss of his job, independence and a previous relationship. His thinking at the time had been “utterly distorted and warped”. Judge Peter Hughes QC told Monkhouse his crimes were “appalling”, and said he “richly deserved” a prison sentence. But Judge Hughes concluded that the specialist help needed by the defendant would not be available in custody. Instead the judge imposed a three-year community order comprising rehabilitation and attendance on a sex offender treatment course. Monkhouse was also made subject to the strict terms of an indefinite sexual harm prevention order, ordered to sign the sex offenders’ register and told he would be automatically barred from working with children and vulnerable adults.