Leeds sex offender returned to downloading indecent child images while he was undergoing marriage counselling and therapy

Matthew Angove committed his latest offence while he was undergoing marriage counselling and was receiving therapy to prevent him re-offending.

Leeds Crown Court heard Angove's first conviction dates back to September 2015 when he was made the subject of a three-year community order after being convicted of possessing indecent images of children.

Joanna Shepherd, prosecuting, said Angove returned to live with his wife and child after completing the order and was subject to visits every six months by a public protection officer.

Information came to light in August 2018 that indecent images had been accessed using an internet address linked to Angove's home.

Angove, 39, was arrested at the property in February 2019.

Miss Shepherd said Angove answered the door and nodded his head when asked by an officer if he was the person that he needed to talk to.

Six indecent child images were found at category C - the lowest level of offending.

The images featured children aged between five and 12 years of age.

Angove initially denied the offending when interviewed.

He claimed he had searched for child images out of curiosity to see if they could still be accessed online and to see how easy it was to obtain them.

Angove, of Gabriel Court, Hunslet, denied having any sexual interest in children.

He pleaded guilty to one count of making indecent photographs of a child.

Catherine Silverton, mitigating, said Angove pleaded guilty to the offence at an early stage.

The barrister said: "Without wishing to minimise any offending of this type, I am sure this is about as low as Your Honour will have seen."

Angove was made the subject of a 12-month community order and told he must complete 30 rehabilitation activity requirement days.

Angove must also go on the sex offender register for eight years.

Recorder Khan said: "Not long after the expiry of the order you foolishly accessed the internet and viewed or deleted a small number of category C images, just six of them.

"But in doing so you committed a further offence of making indecent photographs of children.

"If you are stupid enough to behave like this again it may be that a judge will have no option but to send you to prison."