BACK BEHIND BARS THE NI PAEDOPHILE WHO ADMITS HE IS ‘UNTREATABLE’

A SEX offender told his probation officer he had a “long-standing” interest in children and that no treatment programme would change this, a court has heard.

Carey Lyons, who has 68 previous convictions mostly linked to indecent images of children, struggles to cope on his own and deliberately reoffends so he can be returned to prison.

The 59-year old has already served several sentences after being caught with images of children being sexually abused.

He was back at Belfast Crown Court yesterday where he was handed a three-year sentence for further offending between December 2014 and March 2016.

The court heard that on March 23 last year, Lyons’ premises in Belfast’s Ormeau Road were searched after a support worker from the Probation Board raised concerns that he had breached the terms of a sexual offences prevention order (SOPO). During the search, items including a laptop, hard drive and other digital devices were seized. Lyons was arrested and during an interview, he told police he was attracted to girls aged between eight and 12.

Some 17,753 indecent images and videos were found on the devices before police stopped counting. There were 356 prohibited images of children, as well as 14 extreme pornographic images.

Lyons pleaded guilty to 22 offences, including multiple charges of possessing indecent images of children. He also admitted breaching a SOPO.

During sentencing, Judge Patricia Smyth noted comments made by a probation officer who worked with Lyons, who revealed he deliberately reoffended so he will be returned to the only place he feels safe — prison.

The probation officer was also told by Lyons that he had a “long-term interest in children... and there may not be any treatment which will change this”. Lyons was handed a three-year sentence for his latest offending — half in custody and the rest on supervised licence.

As he has already served his custody period on remand, Lyons is due for immediate release.

Judge Smyth said Lyons will be required to undertake a treatment programme. He was ordered to live at an address approved by the Probation Board, and is banned from having unsupervised contact with children.

Offences: Carey Lyons