Miles Chapman, 29, of Castle View House, East Lane, Runcorn, appeared at Chester Crown Court on Wednesday (April 12) 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 Category A abuse images – the worst type, amongst other indecent images of kids

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

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.

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.