Paedophile caught reoffending in monitoring checks

Officers discovered Gavin Collins had been using a messaging app that destroys messages and images after 14 days

A paedophile has been jailed again after routine checks on the "high risk" sex offender alerted police to the fact he was reoffending.

Software used to monitor sex offenders flagged up a number of concerning searches and posts on Gavin Collins's devices in April, Cheshire Police said.

The 40-year-old from Northwich, Cheshire, who pleaded guilty to child sex offences, was immediately arrested on suspicion of possessing of indecent images of children and his devices were sent for forensic examination.

He was sentenced this week at Chester Crown Court to 30 months in prison, with police saying his devices were found to contain 92 indecent images of children.

Officers said they found Collins was also in breach of his sexual harm prevention order (SHPO) after discovering he had been using a messaging app that destroys messages and images after 14 days.

Collins, of Middlewich Road, admitted two counts of making indecent images of children, and two breaches of his SHPO.

Det Sgt Keith Campbell said Collins had repeatedly demonstrated the high risk he posed to the local community, and he showed a complete lack of remorse.

"He thought he could go on to offend without disruption, but thankfully our officers were able to intervene and put him behind bars.

"The work of Cheshire Constabulary’s sex offenders management unit is paramount to ensuring sexual predators like Collins face the consequences of their heinous and despicable crimes.

"It is important to note that these crimes are not victimless, and I hope this result shows we remain steadfast in pursuing and bringing to justice those who engage in online child sexual exploitation and play a part in the sexual abuse of children in Cheshire and beyond."