Warwick man with a conviction for having indecent images of children admits breaching his order by having a 'secret phone'

A judge fears a Warwick man with a conviction for having indecent images of children may be slipping back into his old ways after he was caught hiding a phone from the police.

Although there was nothing illegal on that phone or on other devices seized from Richard Pawsey, officers were unable to find another phone he was known to have had.

Pawsey (44) of Edmondes Close, Warwick, pleaded guilty to breaching a sexual harm prevention order by having the devices without notifying the police to enable them to be inspected.

He was sentenced to 10 months in prison suspended for two years, with a rehabilitation activity for 25 days and an 8pm-6am electronically-monitored curfew for four months.

Judge Peter Cooke also ordered him to register as a sex offender for ten years, with an amended sexual harm prevention order for the same period.

Ramya Nagesh, prosecuting, said the original order had been imposed in 2014 when Pawsey was sentenced for possessing indecent images of children.

Under the order he could not have devices capable of connecting to the internet or of storing digital images without notifying the police and making them available for inspection.

In November last year officers went to his home because of suspicions they had, and when he was asked if he had a phone he produced an old-style Nokia phone which did not breach the order.

He was arrested on suspicion of having indecent images – although in fact none were found on the devices seized by the police, the court was told.

On him the officers found a note he had written to an unknown person asking them to call him on a number which did not relate to the Nokia.

And when they searched his home they found an i-Phone, which could connect to the internet, an i-Pod, and a micro SD card on which digital images could be stored.

His mother’s home was also searched, and she had a number for him which was the same as the contact number on the note found on Pawsey, although that phone, an i-Phone 7, ‘has not yet been found,’ said Miss Nagesh.

Dean Easthope, defending, pointed out: “This is his first breach almost seven years into the order.

“His mother says he was given certain phones by them when they got new ones, although that still doesn’t mean he should not have notified the police of them,” he conceded.

Mr Easthope said that Pawsey suffers from retinitis pigmentosa, a hereditary disease which has affected his sight and means he will ultimately go blind, and he is also profoundly deaf.

Those factors, together with his mental health, would make a prison term particularly difficult, argued Mr Easthope, who added: “He realises the predicament he’s in, but I would invite Your Honour to step back from immediate custody.”

Sentencing Pawsey, Judge Cooke told him: “I am very concerned that the conduct revealed in this case, with your sneaky concealment of devices, indicates you are slipping back into your old ways.

“I’m talking not just of the devices seized, but also of the i-Phone you have successfully spirited away and kept out of the sight of the police.

“You are a visually-impaired man who sadly is destined to find his sight deteriorating further, and you are profoundly deaf. Life in many respects is pretty bleak for you.

“I believe your health difficulties, both physical and mental, constitute compelling personal mitigation.

“But if you offend within the next 24 months you and I will meet again, and my likely conclusion will be that I was wrong to give you the chance I’ve given you today.

“There are to be no more secret phones and no more hidden devices in the future.”