Colne child porn pervert had secret online 'cloud account'

Blackburn magistrates heard Phillip Edward Belcher breached his sexual harm prevention order just a month after it was imposed.

The offence put Phillip Edward Belcher in breach of a suspended prison sentence imposed by Reading Crown Court.

But David Leach, defending, urged the magistrates to accept it had been a technical breach caused by his client’s poor understanding of the order imposed.

Belcher, 30, of Church Meadows, Colne, pleaded guilty to breaching a sexual harm prevention order by failing to tell police about a Drop-Box cloud account. He was committed on bail to Burnley Crown Court to be sentenced after the magistrates said they would have retained jurisdiction if it hadn’t been for the suspended sentence.

Catherine Allan, prosecuting, said the sexual harm prevention order and suspended prison sentence had been imposed by Reading Crown Court on July 25 for making indecent images of children.

Police carried out a compliance visit on Thursday when Belcher said he was confused about the order.

He was asked to produce any internet enabled devices and handed several over to the officers.

They pressed him and he eventually handed over some memory sticks.

“There were several breaches but the officers were prepared to sit down with him and go through the order to make sure there was no further confusion,” said Miss Allan.

“The police then found another device which had on it some indecent images. That device will now be fully analysed.”

Mr Leech said the charge before the court related to his client failing to report a Drop-Box cloud account to the police.

“At that point they were prepared to explain everything to him fully to make sure there was no more confusion,” said Mr Leech.

“It was only when they found the device containing indecent images that they decided to charge him. It is possible a judge will not activate the suspended sentence. He was entitled to have the Drop-Box account but hadn’t notified police of it.”