A paedophile caught with vile abuse images was spared an immediate prison sentence after a court heard his last spell behind bars had "instilled real motivation" to deal with his issues.
Miles Chapman, 29, of Castle View House, East Lane, Runcorn, appeared at Chester Crown Court on Wednesday where prosecutor Brett Williamson told how a police officer with the sex offender management team paid a compliance visit to Chapman on December 17, 2021, and found his phone contained pictures of “concern”. The sick collection had four Category A abuse images - the worst type, 13 at Category B, and 25 Category C, in addition to 31 prohibited computer-generated images (CGI).
They featured young girls in age ranges such as eight to 10 years or aged about 10 to 12 being abused. Chapman’s stash also breached a Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO) imposed for similar offences at crown court in Manchester several years ago when he was banned from having pictures of children under the age of 16 - whether indecent or otherwise.
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He gave “no comment” answers when interviewed by officers from Cheshire Police on August 25.
Chapman later pleaded guilty at the first opportunity at North Cheshire Magistrates’ Court in Warrington on March 14 last month to posessing indecent images, three counts of making indecent images, one of breaching a Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO), and one of possessing prohibited CGI.
Mr Williamson said Chapman’s criminal record showed a “long history of sexual interest in children” dating back to 2011, and convictions including making or possessing indecent images, failing to comply with community orders and the “notification requirements”, breaching a SHPO and detaining a child without lawful authority, for which he received a two-year community order.
In February 2022 he was sentenced to 16 months in prison with a further SHPO to last 10 years over indecent images.
Ben Stanley, defending, argued mitigation for Chapman’s guilty pleas and an offender management team report that said Chapman has been complying with his requirements since last leaving prison.
Mr Stanley said Chapman “spends a lot of time alone” and has “quite serious mental health issues”.
He said Chapman previously had “strategies for alleviating the negative feelings which are unhealthy”, but that now those “coping strategies have improved - he’s quick to distract himself with more positive activity” such as seeking support from friends.
He said the indecent image offences for which Chapman fell to be sentenced on Wednesday pre-dated his client’s most recent time in prison, which he said was Chapman’s “first significant taste of custody”, “gave him a real chance to reflect on his offences” and “instilled real motivation” to deal with his behaviour.
In addition, he said Chapman was diagnosed with autism at 18, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) at 21, and suffers anxiety, having never held a job because he doesn't like going outside.
The defence barrister said Chapman had been referred for ADHD treatment and has been in touch with a group working with people with a “criminal background” and mental health issues, and would also be eligible for the Horizon sex offender programme.
Judge Simon Berkson sentenced Chapman to 12 months in prison, suspended for two years, with rehabilitation, and said he’d avoided immediate custody because Chapman was “for the first time engaging with the courses being offered”.
Chapman must also complete the Horizon programme, complete a 35-day rehabilitation activity requirement and sign on the sex offender register for 10 years.
Collection, surcharge and deprivation orders - the latter for the phone - were made.
Judge Berkson said: “All your offending I’m to deal with occurred before you got your 16-month sentence and that sentence, having been imposed, is now having some positive effect upon you.”
The case, although a crown court case, took place at Chester Magistrates' Court.
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