David McKay

A convicted paedophile from Stockton has been sentenced to one year in prison for breaching a sexual harm prevention order by possessing an unregistered computer and children's underwear. David McKay, 73, was found guilty at Teesside Magistrates' Court following a routine police visit to his home on 8 April 2025.

McKay has a long history of child sex offences. In September 2012, he was jailed for two years at Durham Crown Court for 16 counts of making indecent images of children, four counts of taking such images, and seven counts of voyeurism. An indefinite sexual harm prevention order was imposed, requiring him to notify police of any internet-enabled devices within three days of acquisition. He had previously been imprisoned twice for breaching this order, including instances involving an unregistered mobile phone, a hidden laptop, and a stash of school skirts. In 2018, McKay was convicted of possessing indecent images of children and a 'paedophile manual', as noted by Judge Deborah Sherwin.

During the routine review on 8 April 2025, Cleveland Police officers discovered a desktop computer that McKay had purchased three weeks earlier but failed to register. Additionally, they found seven pairs of underwear intended for children aged 10 to 11, along with a red notepad containing stories written by McKay about sexually abusing children. McKay claimed he wore the underwear 'for comfort' and wrote the stories to manage his sexual interests, but Judge Sherwin dismissed these explanations, stating the garments were too small for him and highlighting his 'persistent child attraction'.

Judge Sherwin assessed McKay as posing a 'high risk of serious harm' to children, emphasising that his attraction persisted despite the order. She acknowledged 'some force' in his suggestion that writing stories helped vent urges rather than downloading illegal materials but warned of the 'real danger' posed by the unregistered computer. The court heard details from prosecutors and Cleveland Police, confirming McKay's denial of the breach but ultimate conviction by magistrates.

This case underscores ongoing efforts to monitor high-risk individuals under sexual harm prevention orders, with McKay's repeated breaches demonstrating the challenges in preventing reoffending. The sentencing occurred in 2025, though the exact date was not specified in court reports.