Sex offender arrested at his home in Leeds after downloading indecent child images on his mobile phone

David Sawford committed the offence after being released from prison for an offence of sexual activity with a girl under the age of 16.

Leeds Crown Court heard a police constable received information that the 54-year-old had been accessing the illegal images.

The officer went to Sawford's home in July 2018 and seized a Samsung mobile phone.

The defendant gave the officer the pin code for the phone and said there would be no evidence of illegal activity.

The device was sent away for forensic analysis and found to contain 72 images at category C.

Joseph Hudson, prosecuting, said Sawford had accessed the images from January 2017 up until his time of arrest.

Sawford, St Hildas Crescent, Cross Green, Leeds, was interviewed and initially denied any wrongdoing, claiming the images must have appeared as pop-ups on his phone.

He later pleaded guilty to making indecent images of a child.

The court heard Sawford was jailed for 30 months at Preston Crown Court in 2010 for sexual activity with a child.

Martin Morrow, mitigating, said Sawford's offending was linked his misuse of alcohol.

Mr Morrow was his client wished to receive help to address his drinking and sexual offending.

Sawford was given a six-month prison sentence, suspended for two years.

He was ordered to complete 35 rehabilitation activity days and attend a Horizon sex offender programme.

Sawford must also do 120 hours of unpaid work.