By James Simons-
A man has been jailed after downloading more than 200 indecent images of children – despite being subject to a suspended sentence for the same offence.
Martin Sparks, 47, of Maldon Walk, Woodford, has been sentenced to two years and four months in prison after pleading guilty to making indecent images of children (category A) and making indecent images of children (category B).
Sparks initially denied any knowledge of illegal online activity but in police interview, he admitted all of the offences he was subsequently charged with and convicted of at Snaresbrook Crown Court.
When cops went into Sparks’ home, he tried to hide two USB digital storage devices, and decided to put them in the shoes he was wearing.
Officers eventually found the USBs when Sparks was taken into custody – a total of 233 category A child abuse videos and 17 category B images were found on the USBs.
Police also seized a computer tower from Sparks’ home which had been used to download images
The pervert also pleaded guilty to five counts of breaching a sexual harm prevention order (SHPO) and during sentencing, was handed an indefinite SHPO and placed on the sex offenders register indefinitely.
The Met raided Sparks’ home on June 18 last year after receiving intelligence that indecent images of children had been downloaded at the address via peer-to-peer (p2p) software.
Police also seized a computer tower from Sparks’ home which had been used to download images
Sparks had previously been convicted on June 26 2018 of making indecent images of children. For that offence, he received a two-year suspended prison sentence and an SHPO.
Following Sparks’ latest sentencing, Detective Constable James Cavenham said: “Sparks is now behind bars after committing the same hideous offence once again. The evidence we gathered against him meant he had no option but to plead guilty.
“Although this is not a contact offence, every single image contains a child who is a victim of an appalling crime and when people like Sparks seek these images out, they continue to generate a market for this type of abuse.
“The Met will continue to relentlessly pursue and bring to justice those who download online images of child sexual abuse.”