A judge told a sex offender he came “within a whisker of going down to the cells”, after being found to be in possession of a small number of indecent images of children.

David Britton was also in breach of notification requirements as a sex offender by failing to re-register with police to confirm his address by a matter of days.

Durham Crown Court heard that following a conviction for three counts of possessing indecent images of children Britton was sentenced to a community order and made subject of a Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO), as well as registration as a sex offender, for ten years, in September 2019.

Rebecca Brown, prosecuting, said police visited his home address in West Cornforth and seized a phone, plus a self-build computer tower.

Read more: Sex offender went to Ireland for funeral rather than Durham Crown Court for trial

Examination of the devices revealed a thumbnail section inaccessible to the user of the phone, but which was previously accessible, containing three indecent images of children, one classed as in category B, the second most serious level, and two in category C, which were downloaded on November 19, 2021.

Miss Brown said there were also 12 other “indicative” images which were considered “borderline”.

But she said there no apparent internet searches for paedophilic material.

When questioned, Britton explained the presence of the images being down to his research into circumcision.

Miss Brown said when asked about his failure to re-register as a sex offender Britton claimed he could not recall the date and, as soon as he was told by police he went to a police station to rectify the situation.

The 33-year-old defendant, of High Street, West Cornforth, admitted two counts of making indecent images of children and one of failing to comply with notification requirements.

Shaun Routledge, for Britton, told the court: “He’s had the good sense to admit what had been going on straightaway.”

But Mr Routledge pointed to the defendant’s probation progress report, stating: “But for these offences, he appears to have done really well.

“In relation to the breach, some of us, not all of us, live their lives on a mobile phone.

“His supervising officer got it touch on December 22 and within ten to 15 minutes he was at Spennymoor Police Station to re-register.”

Judge Jo Kidd told Britton it was, “of grave concern” that during the period of the community order the defendant downloaded further indecent images, but she accepted the breach of notification re-registration date may have been, “inadvertent.”

“The offender manager speaks of significant improvement in your circumstances during the course of the previous order, but the mere fact you committed further offences during the operational period means the custody threshold has been passed.

Read more: County Durham sex offender exchanged messages with mother of child

“You have come within a whisker of going down to the cells to start an immediate prison sentence.

“But, I have been persuaded to draw back from the imposition of an immediate prison sentence.

Judge Kidd passed a nine-month prison sentence, suspended for two years, during which Britton will have to attend up to 90 days of a dedicated sex offender programme and take part in 30 probation-led rehabilitation activity days.

The existing SHPO and registration requirements remain in place, while Judge Kidd ordered forfeiture of the devices seized by police.

She warned Britton any further breaches or failure to comply with the requirements of the order would not be dealt with in a similar fashion.

Read next:             

County Durham rapist poses 'high risk' of sexual harm to women

Sex offender wiped internet history from ipad he kept secret from Durham Police

County Durham offender on suspended sentence reaches 'the end of the line'

If you want to read more great stories, why not subscribe to your Northern Echo for as little as £1.25 a week. Click here