'No prospect for rehabilitation': 'Entrenched' paedophile finally jailed after admitting third offence of downloading indecent child images

Richard Ely has two previous convictions for having indecent images in 2015 and 2017.

He was given community orders for those offences and made the subject of a Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO) to limit his internet use.

Leeds Crown Court heard police went to Ely's home on Standish Crescent, South Kirkby, to monitor his electronic devices and he confessed to having a USB memory stick.

The memory stick was found to contain three child sex abuse movies at category A - the most serious level of offending.

The 45-year-old initially denied any offending but pleaded guilty to possessing an indecent image of a child before the case went to trial.

However, the judge, Recorder Darren Preston, responded by saying Ely had chances for help when he was previously convicted, and continued to make excuses.

He said: "He had help before and it has completely failed to have an impact on him.

"He keeps providing preposterous explanations and now expects the court to believe he is sincere."

"You are plainly an entrenched paedophile who is in complete denial.

"Your admissions now are to secure a better sentence. You are not willing to accept you have a problem.

"There is no prospect for rehabilitation and the only option is immediate custody."

Ely was made the subject of another SHPO of indeterminate length and was told he must go on the sex offender register for ten years.