Josh Hartley-Conway, a 28-year-old man from Halifax, West Yorkshire, was sentenced at Bradford Crown Court for possessing indecent images of children. Appearing via video link from HMP Leeds, he was described by Recorder Andrew Haslam KC as presenting a 'high risk to children' due to his history of sexual offending.
The court heard that Hartley-Conway, who resides on Union Street South in Halifax, was arrested at his home on 28 June 2023 by police acting on intelligence. A forensic examination of his mobile phone uncovered 18 indecent images of children aged between 10 and 16, classified in categories B and C. These images had been downloaded between 7 June 2023 and 16 June 2024, a period that followed closely after he had been handed a suspended sentence for prior similar offences.
Hartley-Conway has a criminal history including three previous convictions for ten offences, comprising sexual assault on a female child under 13, inciting a boy under 13 to engage in penetrative sexual activity, and making indecent photographs of children. For those earlier crimes, he received a three-year community order. Despite this, just weeks after that suspended sentence, he reoffended by downloading the new batch of images. During his police interview, he made no comment.
The pre-sentence report painted a grim picture, with the author expressing no confidence that a suspended sentence would deter further offending. Recorder Haslam stated: 'The pre-sentence report makes bleak reading. The author of it has indicated that he or she has no belief that a suspended sentence order will reduce the risk that you present of further offending. There is, in the view of the author, no evidence on your part of motivation to stop reoffending and the motivation to offend outweighs your motivation to comply with such an order.' The judge highlighted Hartley-Conway's high risk of sexual offending, including potential contact offences, and warned of the possibility of an extended sentence in future cases.
Mitigating factors presented in court included Hartley-Conway's autism, difficulties in processing information, and experiences of extreme abuse and harassment following his previous conviction, which prompted his relocation from Bradford to Halifax. He was also noted to be struggling with mental health issues and at risk of losing his accommodation. Nevertheless, Recorder Haslam imposed a custodial sentence of eight months for the new offences, activating six months from the prior suspended sentence, totalling 14 months' imprisonment. He will serve up to half of this term.
Additionally, a 10-year Sexual Harm Prevention Order was maintained, and Hartley-Conway must notify authorities as a sex offender for the same duration. The court ordered the deprivation of his mobile phone to prevent further misuse. This case was reported by Tony Earnshaw, Crime and Court Reporter for The Telegraph & Argus, based on proceedings at Bradford Crown Court.