A convicted sex offender from Workington, Cumbria, has been jailed for 32 months after breaching a sexual harm prevention order (SHPO) by downloading illegal images of children and engaging in prohibited online activities.
Lloyd James Christopher Ditchburn, 24, of Vulcans Lane, Workington, appeared at Carlisle Crown Court on Tuesday for sentencing on fresh offences. The court heard that Ditchburn has a disturbing history of sexual crimes against children. In 2014, as a juvenile, he was punished for distributing indecent images of youngsters. Then, in 2020, he was convicted for making perverted pictures and outraging public decency through 'up-skirting'.
The latest incidents came to light during a routine meeting on 1 September 2021, involving Ditchburn, his probation officer, and a detective constable responsible for risk monitoring. Prosecutor Brendan Burke explained that when the officer examined Ditchburn's phone, it was immediately apparent he was running incognito software, in direct breach of the SHPO imposed for his past crimes. Additionally, Ditchburn had been using social media platforms without age restrictions, particularly one popular among children.
In his police interview, Ditchburn initially claimed the incognito mode had been activated accidentally. However, he soon made full admissions, stating that police monitoring software on his phone had crashed, giving him the confidence to install the incognito software and disable the monitoring when it reactivated. He confessed to accessing a social media group called 'schoolgirls 12 to 18' and admitted to the distribution and exchange of images. Ditchburn concluded the interview by expressing that he needed serious help.
Further investigation revealed that Ditchburn had downloaded two indecent images of children classified in category A—the most serious category—and eight in category C. He pleaded guilty to two breaches of the SHPO and making the illegal pictures.
Defending barrister Anthony Parkinson noted that Ditchburn had been in custody since September but had not yet begun rehabilitation work due to the pandemic, though he was willing to engage. Judge Nicholas Barker, however, highlighted that previous offers of help had not been taken up. 'It is clear to me that you have an underlying and deeply unhealthy attitude to children as objects of sexual desire,' the judge stated, before imposing a sentence of 32 months' imprisonment.
Ditchburn must now sign the sex offenders' register for life. The case was reported by the News and Star, based on proceedings at Carlisle Crown Court.