Serial sex offender condemned by charity
A children’s charity has condemned a serial Sunderland sex offender saying it is clear he “continues to have a disturbing sexual interest in children”.
William Carmody, who has abusedchildreninthepastand stillposesarisk,hadtriedtodelete the shocking images from his mobile phone when police went to his home.
ButNewcastleCrownCourt heardanofficermanagedtograb the handset from him and found ten cartoon pictures depicting depraved abuse.
Prosecutor Anne Richardson told the court the 44-yearold has a "predilection with children, both male and female" and was on the sex offenders’registerandsubjectto a sexual harm prevention orderduetohispastconvictions. Now children’s charity, the NSPCC, has called for law enforcementandtechcompanies to work together to stop ‘vile content’ at the source.
An NSPCC spokesperson said: “Any image depicting child abuse – whether animated or not – is never acceptable, and it is clear that Carmody continues to have a disturbing sexual interest in children.
“Effective rehabilitation is crucial as part of his sentence. Andlawenforcementandtech companies must work together to cut this vile content off at source.”
Newcastle Crown Court heard a troubling cartoon image of a child was visible on Carmody’s phone and a further nine images were found when the device was examined. Judge Tim Gittins said having such images is "extremely serious", could be a "precursor to further contact offences being risked" and demonstrate a failure to alter past behaviour.
The judge sentenced Carmody to 22 months behind bars and ordered him to sign the sex offenders’ register.