April 2017
Exmouth man hid computer in secret compartment to stop police finding hoard of child abuse images
A convicted sex offender hid his laptop in a secret compartment in his bathroom to try to stop police finding his hoard of child abuse images.
Darren Warren had been convicted of having similar images 15 years earlier and had also installed evidence scrubbing software on the computer.
He told police he started downloaded images again because he was upset at the recent death of his mother.
A judge spared him an immediate jail sentence after hearing how Warren responded to his arrest by enrolling on a course run by the charity the Lucy Faithfull Foundation to address his behaviour.
Warren, aged 47, of Richmond Road, Exmouth, admitted three counts of making indecent images of children and one of making an extreme image of bestiality.
He was jailed for 12 months, suspended for two years, ordered to attend the probation-run Horizon sex offenders’ treatment programme and undertake 20 days rehabilitation activities.
He was also put back onto the sex offenders’ register for ten years and made subject to the Sexual Harm Prevention Order for 15 years by Recorder Mr Martin Meeke, QC, at Exeter Crown Court.
He told him:”These offences came to light when the police found two devices hidden behind a bath panel. They were hidden because you knew perfectly well you should not be in possession of such images.
“You were convicted of 12 counts of possession in 2002 but it is right to say you had a limited number of images on this occasion. Your previous conviction is a serious aggravating feature.
“The mitigating factors are that you have shown regret and remorse in a tangible way by attending the Lucy Faithfull course. I find you are committed to reforming yourself.”
Mr James Taghdissian, prosecuting, said Warren was identified by police through his use of the internet and his home was searched in July last year.
A total of 42 movies or stills were found including ten in the worst category A, which shows children having sex with adults. There was also an extreme image featuring a dog and search terms including Lolita and jailbait.
Police believed Warren used cleansing software and his internet downloads had been diverted to an external drive.