Defiant Wakefield paedophile ordered to accept his sexual interest in children
Pervert found guilty after trial give stern warning by judge
A paedophile who denied being responsible for having child-abuse images on his phone has been told he must face up to his sexual interest in youngsters.
Daniel Sheard was found guilty after a short trial in March at Leeds Crown Court of three counts of making indecent images and one of possessing an extreme pornographic image.
The 39-year-old was given a suspended sentence this week, but Judge Andrew Stubbs KC told him: “It’s a process of you coming to terms with what you have done. You are not there yet.
“You have a sexual interest in children. You must face up to that. It’s a difficult road to take.
“Those images you were looking at were real people.
“Having dealt with many people in this position, the way forward for you is to be honest.”
Police had spoken to Sheard about an unrelated matter in March 2022, seizing his phone.
They found controversial messaging and file-sharing apps such as KIK, Telegram and MEGA.
They also found the indecent images and videos ranging from Category A to C. Category A covers the most extreme images and videos, including the rape of children.
Sheard, of Victoria Street, Horbury, had also engaged in online chats which contained accessible indecent images of children.
The defendant was arrested but made no comments during two subsequent police interviews.
Following his trial, he was given a 12-month sentence, suspended for 18 months, with 200 hours of unpaid work and rehabilitation days with probation.
He was given a 10-year sexual harm prevention order (SHPO) to curb his internet use, and put on the sex offender register for 10 years.