Scarborough paedophile jailed after downloading indecent images of children
A Scarborough paedophile has been jailed for downloading indecent images of children while subject to a court order designed to curb his online activities.
Alex Whale, 24, downloaded dozens of illicit photos of minors while on a court order forbidding him from possessing any new electronic device without notifying the Police Public Protection Unit, York Crown Court heard.
In 2022, Whale was convicted of similar offences and distributing indecent images of children but was spared prison and given a community order.
As part of that sentence, the court subjected him to a sexual-harm-prevention order which made it incumbent on him to notify police if he had any new electronic devices, said prosecutor Rob Galley.
Not only did he not notify police about owning a new tablet, he also began immersing himself in the dark recesses of the internet again, in breach of the order.
Between May and August 2024, Whale downloaded nearly 90 indecent images of children – including 12 photos rated Category A, the worst kind of such material involving the sexual abuse of children.
Whale, of Nelson Street, admitted three counts of making indecent images of children - of all levels of depravity including Category B and C images - as well as possessing extreme pornography, namely two bestiality images, and possessing 101 prohibited or cartoon images of children.
He appeared for sentence yesterday (Tuesday, August 4) after pleading guilty to all matters.
Defence barrister Nick Hammond said that Whale had mental-health conditions including autism and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).
He said that in terms of mental development, Whale was “much younger” than his 24 years.
Judge Sean Morris, the Recorder of York, told Whale: “You are, most likely, as far is maturity is concerned, less than 24, given your issues, but you know right from wrong, and you know you did wrong.”
He said that, by breaching the community and sexual-harm prevention orders imposed by the court four years ago, Whale had “thrown that mercy back in the court’s face” by “looking at indecent images of children again”.
Whale received a 14-month prison sentence but was told he would likely serve less than half of that behind bars before being released on prison licence.
He was placed on the sex-offenders’ register for a further 10 years and made subject to a new 10-year sexual-harm prevention order to curb his online activities.