By Ashley Young-
A university drop out has escaped jail after pretending to be a 19-year-old female as he engaged in “taboo conversations” with paedophiles online.
Jordan Mitchell was also made the subject of a sexual harm prevention order for five years.The Recorder of Leeds, Judge Guy Kearl QC, gave Mitchell an eight-month prison sentence, suspended for two years.
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Mr Cook told the court that Mitchell committed the offences after he dropped out of university and went to live with his grandmother.
Leeds Crown Court heard that West Yorkshire Police officers executed a search warrant at the property of Mitchell’s on December 30, 2020, after receiving information that a Snapchat user had uploaded indecent images.
After cops seized a laptop and two mobile phones and analyzed them, they found they contained 756 indecent child images and extreme images. Some of the images were sadistic in nature and involved babies.
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The stunned court heard that 355 moving and still images were at category A – the most serious level of offending.
An examination of Mitchell’s social media accounts revealed that he had pretended to be a 19-year-old female during conversations with others about sexually abusing children.
Mitchell, 23, of Brownroyd Avenue, Huddersfield, pleaded guilty to three counts of making an indecent image of a child and one of possessing an extreme pornographic image.
Ian Cook, mitigating, said Mitchell had no previous convictions and pleaded guilty to the offences at an early stage. Explaining his deviant behaviour, the barrister said Mitchell had become socially isolated and became involved in “taboo conversations” with others as a way of making friends online.
Mr Cook said Mitchell deeply regretted his actions and continued to have the support of his family.
He added: “He has been through a dark period of his life but he is coming out the other side.”
Mitchell was also ordered to take part in a 27-day sex offender treatment programme and to complete 30 rehabilitation activity requirement days.
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