Wortley sex offender with history of offences against youngsters caught with indecent images of children

Leeds Crown Court heard Steven Scarodimos was arrested after police received information about his latest offending in 2018.

Kristina Goodwin, prosecuting, said police discovered that a device connected to Scarodimos' internet provider address had been used to access indecent child images.

West Yorkshire Police officers went to the defendant's home on March 29, 2019, and seized electronic equipment including a hard drive and a laptop.

The 48-year-old told the officers that no illegal images would be found.

The devices were analysed and 41 images were found at categories B and C.

Ms Goodwin said there was also evidence that Scarodimos had deleted images and that he had used used internet search terms for images of underage children.

The images recovered were of children aged between six and 16 years of age.

The defendant was interviewed and denied any wrongdoing.

He denied ever seeing the images and said he only used the devices for downloading films.

Scorodimos, of Wortley Heights, Wortley, Leeds, later pleaded guilty to two counts of making indecent images of a child.

He has 29 previous convictions.

In 1992 he was convicted of indecent assault of a female and three counts of indecently assaulting males aged under 16.

In 2001 he was convicted of five counts of indecent assault of a female.

Helen Chapman, mitigating, said Scarodimos pleaded guilty to the offences at an early stage and had not been in trouble in three years since his arrest.

Ms Chapman said her client was willing to receive treatment to prevent him reoffending.

Scarodimos was given a 12-month prison sentence, suspended for two years.

He was ordered to take part in an internet sex offender programme and to complete 27 rehabilitation activity requirement days.

He was also made the subject of a sexual offences prevention order for ten years.

Judge Simon Batiste said: "The record you have is a serious aggravating factor because it demonstrates that you have a significant ongoing sexual interest in young children.

"As I am told that you are willing to comply with the conditions, I am going to take a chance on you and I'm going to suspend the inevitable sentence.

"You must understand that what I am about to impose upon you is not optional."