Sex offender jailed after being caught with sick pictures of children on his mobile phone

Police found the photograph, featuring a child aged 7-10, in the 'gallery' of Robert Curry's mobile phone when risk management officers visited his home in Sunderland in March 2019.

Newcastle Crown Court heard Curry, 35, was on the sex offenders register and being monitored in the community after his release from a 32-month prison sentence imposed in 2011 for having sexual activity with a child.

Prosecutor Emma Dowling told the court: "They were carrying out the usual risk assessment.

"They asked to see his mobile phone, which he did hand over to officers.

"They had a look in the gallery and could see straight away there was an indecent photograph of a child."

The court heard the child who was being abused in the image was aged between 7 and 10.

Police seized the phone and it was examined by specialist officers who confirmed the image had been shared on the messaging site Kik.

Miss Dowling said the email address used to upload the illegal image and the data it contained meant officers were "certain" that Curry had uploaded the picture.

The court heard as well as the shared image, police found another picture, featuring a girl aged between 5 and 7.

Curry, of Bourne Street, Easington Colliery, admitted distributing an indecent photograph of a child, which was a category A, the most serious and making an indecent photograph of a child, which was category C.

He also admitted possessing a small amount of cannabis.

Judge Christopher Prince sentenced him to 28 months behind bars.

Curry must sign the sex offenders register and abide by a sexual harm prevention order for ten years.

Judge Prince told him: "It is a very significant factor of this case and a very serious aggravating factor of this case that you were sentenced to 32 months imprisonment in 2011 for offences of sexual activity with a child under 16."

The judge added: "Even though you were on the sex offenders register you still couldn't resist committing offences of this nature."

Judge Prince said once an image is shared online there is "complete loss of control" and it could end up being distributed "thousands of times".

Jamie Adams, defending, said Curry understands the seriousness of what he did and was embarrassed and ashamed about it.

Mr Adams said since Curry's release from prison he has gained qualifications and has recently completed a course to secure factory work.

Mr Adams added: "He has got insight, he is someone who can be worked with."

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