SHAUN FEARON FROM MIDDLESBROUGH SENTENCED FOR CHILD ABUSE IMAGES AND THEFT
In a disturbing case that unfolded in Middlesbrough, Shaun Fearon, aged 36, was found guilty of possessing and creating indecent images of children, as well as possessing extreme pornography and committing theft.The incident, which took place in March 2019, revealed a troubling pattern of criminal behavior linked to his addiction issues.
According to court proceedings at Teesside Crown Court, Fearon attempted to conceal his illicit activities when police arrived at his residence on Bridge Street West, located in central Middlesbrough.
He initially claimed to possess only one phone, but officers quickly discovered another device on his bed, which he tried to hide under a duvet, stating, “You’re not having that one.” When officers attempted to seize the second phone, Fearon resisted and, in a shocking act of desperation, put the device into his mouth and tried to bite it in half to prevent its examination.
Prosecutor Jenny Haigh described the scene, noting that Fearon struggled as police tried to recover the phone, which he had previously stolen from a 79-year-old woman the month prior.
The seized device was thoroughly examined, revealing that within a few weeks, Fearon had downloaded approximately 240 images of child abuse, including 70 at the most severe level.
The images depicted children under the age of ten, with some showing the rape of three- and four-year-olds.
The material was particularly disturbing, featuring children in sexual acts and other heinous content.
In addition to the child abuse images, the phone contained extreme pornography, including a video of an act that involved threatening a person’s life through suffocation, as well as a video involving a woman and an animal.
During police interviews, Fearon denied any sexual attraction to children, claiming instead that he was “just a porn addict and a drug addict,” and that his actions were driven by his substance abuse.
He admitted to engaging in sexual acts while under the influence of drugs, describing his behavior as “weird” and “off his face.” Police had been attempting to locate Fearon for nearly two years, with the investigation tracing back to July 2017 when child abuse images were uploaded to the internet from a Middlesbrough address linked to him.
It was only in March 2019 that officers managed to track him down and conduct the arrest.
During the court hearing, his defense attorney, John Nixon, highlighted that Fearon was found living within 50 yards of the Middlesbrough police station and was already serving a community order, complying with probation requirements.
Judge Deborah Sherwin remarked on the apparent lack of police effort in actively searching for him, suggesting that he was not being pursued aggressively.
Fearon’s criminal record was primarily related to drug offenses, including previous convictions for burglary, assault, wounding, theft, possessing a blade, and benefit fraud.
Notably, he had no prior convictions for sexual offenses.
The court acknowledged that his recent crimes were largely linked to his ongoing struggles with substance abuse.
In sentencing, Judge Sherwin imposed a one-year prison term on Fearon.
Additionally, she ordered the imposition of a sexual harm prevention order and mandated that he register as a sex offender for the next ten years, reflecting the severity of his offenses and the need for ongoing monitoring.
