A MAN subject to a sexual harm prevention order produced a single USB stick to police carrying out a routine compliance visit.

Blackburn magistrates heard when police asked if he had any more devices Mark Shaw twice said no.

But officers then discovered a bag containing 10 USB sticks which Shaw claimed he had intended to destroy.

Shaw, 56, of Bolton Grove, Barrowford, pleaded guilty to breach of a sexual harm prevention order. He was remanded on bail for the preparation of a pre-sentence report.

Scott Parker, prosecuting, viewed the offence as a deliberate breach of the Sexual Harm Prevention order which was made in February 2018.

He said a condition of the order was that Shaw made available to the police any devices capable of accessing the internet or storing data.

When police visited they asked Shaw if he had connected a USB stick to his laptop and he produced a green stick. The police realised this was corrupted and inquired about other devices.

“He twice denied having any other USB sticks but said the officers were welcome to look around.,” said Mr Parker. “They discovered a pouch containing about 10 devices.”

Shaw told the officers he wanted to destroy the sticks because they contained indecent images of himself. He denied they contained any illegal images.

“The content of the sticks is the subject to a separate investigation,” said Mr Parker.

Richard Prew, defending, said his client had forgotten about the USB sticks.

“What he is guilty of is not handing them over when he was asked,” said Mr Prew.