By Police apprehended man with ‘a worrying obsession with children’ Grimsby court hears
A man has avoided prison after admitting to an ‘obsession’ with underage children when police found indecent images on his phone.
Steven Shipp of Scunthorpe has avoided jail time after admitting to the offences.
At Grimsby Crown Court, Shipp, 43, of Melford Court in Scunthorpe admitted to attempting sexual communication with a child and possession of indecent images on his phone.
For the prosecution, Andrew Semple said Shipp had a previous caution for voyeurism for using binoculars to spy on a 14-year-old girl’s bedroom.
Humberside Police and the National Crime Agency detected Shipp using his phone to communicate with the children, the offences being committed between November 2019 and September 2020.
The force attended his address where Shipp lived with his wife of three years.
At the address, they found a Samsung Galaxy phone with 283 indecent images and a selection of videos. Mr. Semple also said the phone had an application that allowed him to watch others playing computer games, which would include boys aged 12 and 13.
When arrested, Shipp attempted to justify his behaviour by saying he was lonely and he had lost his job. He said he did not force any of the children into anything and admitted to finding both boys and girls attractive.
He also admitted he had deleted some of the files stored on his device.
Shipp’s representative in Court, Richard Hackfath, said his client had made full admissions to police in an apparent letter to them.
“It is unusual frankness. He accepts he has a problem with underage boys and girls. This is a defendant who wants to address these problems.” he added.
Judge Michael Fanning said it was clear Shipp had “A worrying obsession with children.
“We don’t know if it was an adult out for entrapment or an adult who enjoys the same as you. You engaged in communication with a child for your own sexual gratification.
“You intended to have communication with a 13-year-old boy. You are a 43-year-old and communication with a child of 13 years who is still developing sexually and the last thing they need is a 43-year-old such as you sending pictures of themselves and asking for photographs of them. It is incredibly harmful.”
The judge imposed a sentence of one year, suspended for two years and Shipp must attend the Horizon programme and work with probation services to take part in 30 rehabilitation activity days.
He will also complete 150 hours of unpaid work in the community with a Sexual Harm Prevention Order lasting 10 years.
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