Clacton sex offender sought out indecent images of girls

Paul Parham, 55, was made the subject of a sexual harm prevention order in 2016 after he was convicted of three counts of making indecent images of children.

The order was imposed for five years, but was found to have been breached in 2019.

Chelmsford Crown Court heard police executed a search warrant at his home, asking Parham to provide details of all devices capable of storing digital images.

Two iPhones were in his bedroom, one of which had a browser set to private, which was in breach of the order.

Two further iPhones, which Parham did not disclose to the officers, were found in a locked glove box in his vehicle.

On one of the devices, police recovered an indecent video at category C, depicting a 14-yearold girl.

Police also found bookmarks had been created which indicated a sexual interest in young teenage girls.

Search terms and history revealed he had been seeking images of teenage girls.

Parham, of Carisbrooke Avenue, Clacton, admitted making an indecent image of a child, two counts of failing to comply with notification requirements and three breaches of a sexual harm prevention order.

The court heard he “carried a burden of care and responsibility” for his two parents, both aged in their 70s.

Judge David Turner QC said: “You say in your letter to me that you’ve had time to reflect on your life and you understand your reckless and thoughtless actions will have consequences.

“Indeed they will.”

He added: “I face the uneasy dilemma of what to do with you today – whether to simply send you to prison, or to see whether I can, by not immediately sending you to prison, in the longer term leave the public, and I hope you, in a rather better position.”

Parham was sentenced to 15 months imprisonment, suspended for two years.

He was ordered to complete a rehabilitation programme and a ten year sexual harm prevention order was imposed.

For court and crime updates, follow our dedicated Facebook page.