SHANE SILBY OF HULL SENTENCED FOR INDECENT IMAGES OF CHILDREN

Shane Silby, 51, of Bransholme in Hull, was found to have downloaded indecent images of children, including images of children as young as three years old. The police began their investigation after receiving information indicating that such images had been downloaded from a specific IP address and postal address. A search warrant was carried out when officers discovered that the property was unoccupied because the listed resident was on holiday; Silby was looking after the property at the time. During the raid, officers confiscated a laptop containing 30 images classified as Category A, 26 in Category B, and two in Category C, all depicting children as young as three. Further inquiries revealed that Silby had searched online for “What do HM Prison cells look like?” Silby, who has a criminal record with 11 previous offences—most recently in 1996 but not of a similar nature—pleaded guilty to three counts of making indecent images of children on March 30, 2023, at Hull Crown Court. Although he was not sentenced to prison, the court imposed a 16-month suspended sentence and ordered 25 days of rehabilitation. He is also subject to a 10-year sexual harm prevention order and must register as a sex offender for the same duration. During police interviews, Silby chose not to comment on the allegations.