May 2018

Convicted paedophile helped video children in tournament at Edgbaston Priory Club

A CONVICTED paedophile has been volunteering at a top family tennis and squash club – by helping take videos of children in a tournament.

Repeat offender Ben Heath, 41, became a member of prestigious Edgbaston Priory Club where he helped record junior matches for a live stream.

But he was previously jailed for 14 months in October 2014 and placed on the sex offenders register for 10 years after being convicted of having indecent images of children.

Heath, from Jacoby Place, Edgbaston, has similar offences dating back to 2007.

In April 2017 he received a six month prison sentence, suspended for 18 months, after he admitted three offences of failing to comply with the sex offenders’ register.

Yet despite the long history of offending Heath was able to become a member of Edgbaston Priory Club, based in St Harry’s Road, and was involved in running a live video stream of children taking part in a tournament in January.

But he was suspended and left the club after a member became suspicious and discovered his past offences after searching online.

His crimes included him receiving a suspended sentence in 2007 after admitting downloading a total of 15,419 indecent images of children, including 13,577 at level one.

In August 2013 he was fined £500 after failing to comply with the requirements of the sex offenders’ register.

And In October 2014 he was jailed at Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court after police seized his computer equipment and found a total of 7,230 images of children.

Heath, then of Riverlea, Madeley, Stoke, had pleaded guilty to eight offences of making indecent images of children.

Judge Glenn told him: “These are real children being abused for the entertainment of people like you who access this disgusting and disgraceful behaviour.

“It is quite plain that you have an ongoing interest in indecent images of children. You are plainly sexually attracted to children.

“You have already undergone a sexual offenders treatment programme but you continued to offend while subject to that programme.”

April 2017

Audley pervert, 40, failed to tell police of new address

Pervert Benjamin Heath has been handed a suspended jail sentence after he admitted three offences of failing to comply with the notification requirements of the sex offenders’ register.

The 40-year-old, formerly of Chester Road, Audley, who now lives in Jacoby Place, Edgbaston, Birmingham, was convicted of making and possessing indecent images of children in 2007.

And in 2014 he was jailed for 14 months and placed on the sex offenders’ register for 10 years after being convicted of similar matters.

But Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court heard he twice failed to tell police of a change of address within three days. He also failed to inform them he had a credit card within three days of it being issued

Kevin Mortlock, mitigating, said the defendant is an educated man who has been ‘undoing his own attempts to lead a normal life’.

Mr Mortlock added: “At the very least, he has been foolish.”

Judge David Fletcher sentenced Heath to six months in prison, suspended for 18 months, with 160 hours unpaid work.

He told the defendant: “The police are going to be interested in you until 2024. If on another occasion you take the view you are too busy or disorganised to comply it will almost inevitably lead to a sentence of imprisonment of some length.

“You must be sure the police know where you are living.”

October 2014

Madeley man jailed after police find 7,230 indecent images of children on laptop

PERVERT Benjamin Heath is behind bars after he downloaded thousands of indecent images of children.

The 38-year-old, who has a previous conviction for making indecent images, was arrested last July after  he failed to comply with the sex offender notification requirements.

Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court heard police seized his computer equipment and found a total of 7,230 images of children on his computer, hard drive and laptop.

Now Heath has been jailed for 14 months.

Prosecutor Heather Chamberlin said Heath was a registered sex offender after being convicted of similar offences in 2007.

But he was arrested in July, 2013 after he was in breach of the sex offender notification requirements.

His computers and other devices were analysed and were found to contain images of children.

He was re-arrested in February when police seized more equipment and found further indecent images.

Police found 834 category A images which were downloaded between 2007 and 2009; 790 category B images; and 5,370 category C images.

They found a further five movies at levels A, B, and C, along with 51 level C images downloaded in 2010. The investigation also found and 33 level A; 24 level B and 123 level C images downloaded on his laptop between 2011 and 2014.

Heath, of Riverlea, Madeley, pleaded guilty to eight offences of making indecent images of children.

He admitted the pleas placed him in breach of a suspended sentence he received in 2007.

Peter McCartney, mitigating, said Heath’s partner has accepted what he has done in the past.

Mr McCartney said: “She seems to have got over the shock.

“She is prepared to live with him and work with him to prevent any further relapse in his offending.”

Judge Paul Glenn said it was a significant aggravating feature that the offences were committed while Heath was the subject of a suspended jail sentence.

He jailed Heath for 14 months and placed him on the sex offenders’ register for 10 years.

Heath also was made the subject of a 10 year sexual offences prevention order (SOPO) and will be barred from a range of activities involving children and vulnerable adults.

Judge Glenn said: “These are real children being abused for the entertainment of people like you who access this disgusting and disgraceful behaviour.

“It is quite plain that you have an ongoing interest in indecent images of children.

“You are plainly sexually attracted to children.

“You have already undergone a sexual offenders treatment programme but you continued to offend while subject to that programme.