Preston paedophile pensioner failed to disclose his web enabled smart TV

Joseph Riley, 77, moved to accommodation on Great Shaw Street, Preston, after West Lancashire Council turfed him out of his council flat in Skelmersdale in 2017 following his conviction for possessing images of child abuse.

Beth Pilling, prosecuting, said on August 3, 2019, Riley failed to disclose a device capable of accessing the internet to officers, in breach of a sexual harm prevention order made by Liverpool Crown Court in May 2016.

He is further charged with a similar offence on October 25, 2019, when he failed to disclose a device capable of retaining digital images.

She added: "Police attended on a routine visit and asked for his devices.

"He submits a phone which contains a pornographic image - not involving children - taken from a TV screen. They've then enquired about a smart TV in the property, which can access the internet

"We then move to October 25, again a routine check. He hands over a phone on that occasion and a laptop and a hard drive. There was nothing on those devices, but what follows is he failed to hand over a Fuji camera which was capable of storing digital images."

Riley was previously convicted of four counts of making indecent images of children and one of possessing an indecent photograph of children. All the images were deemed category A - the most serious in law.

At that time he was sentenced to eight months imprisonment, suspended for 24 months, given two years supervision, and ordered to attend a sexual offender's Programme.

He was made subject to a five-year sexual harm prevention order - which he is now in breach of - and ordered sign the Sex Offender's Register for a decade.

He was given a further six month suspended sentence last year over possessing further indecent images.

Imposing a 12 month conditional discharge, Judge Beverly Lunt accepted it was a low level breach and said: "This was stupid Mr Riley, it really was stupid - there was nothing on any of this, you could have shown them everything.

"The other orders still apply, you know that don't you?"

He mumbled: " I've learned my lesson, thank you."