Northampton sex offender returns to court after admitting trying to hide internet search history

A Northampton sex offender who was caught using a mobile phone while trying to hide what he was searching for on the internet has been spared jail.

James Coombes, of Towcester Road, was jailed in 2013 for three-and-a-half years for possessing indecent images of children and soliciting sexual acts from a teenager.

It means he is now subject to a sexual harm prevention order (SHPO) that means he cannot own devices that lets him hide what he searches for on the internet.

But in a routine police call to his house in July, officers found a phone that showed evidence of him trying to hide his internet search history.

Northampton Crown Court heard on Friday (August 28) that it was then Coombes admitted he had been using the phone to look at indecent images of children for around four months and said he felt he posed "a risk to children at the time".

Recorder Mr David Herbert QC said: "The harm caused by your offending is great. The children that are exploited to provide the images you are looking for are very seriously abused so that you can view them.

"Had your offending gone as far as to meet or contact any children this would warrant an immediate custodial sentence.

"But because of your frankness with your admissions, I see this as an opportunity to continue your rehabilitation.

"But you will face two more conditions as a result of this, and that serves to punish you."

Coombes was handed a 12-month prison sentence suspended for two years. He will also work 120 hours of unpaid work and commit to 40 days of rehabilitation requirments.