Sheppey Man Jailed For Child Porn

A 51-year-old man from the Isle of Sheppey has been sentenced to three and a half years in prison for making and distributing incident images of children.

Alan Hannaby, of Ranelagh Road in Sheerness, faced 20 offences, and later pleaded guilty to 10 charges of distributing indecent images of children and 10 offences of making indecent images of children.

Hannaby, who has previous convictions for indecent assault and gross indecency, will also be required to sign the sex offenders register.

Officers executed a search warrant at his home address on 22 December 2008 and he was arrested.

The court heard how Hannaby had previous convictions for indecent assault on two women and inciting gross indecency and gross indecency in 1995.

Senior investigating officer, DC Mark Tyler said: "Hannaby has repeatedly demonstrated that he is a danger to children. His distribution of images of children being abused serves to encourage further abuse and continues to victimise vulnerable children featured in the picture."

Kent Police's Digital Forensics Unit examined computer equipment seized from his home and found evidence of indecent images and movies of children.

These were categorised at levels 1 to 5 (level 5 depicting the most deprived).

Head of Kent Police's Public Protection Unit, DS Maria Shepherd said: "Kent Police remains determined to seek out those individuals who abuse children and are engaged in child abuse image offences. We are committed to identifying offenders and bringing them before the courts."

(PR/BMcC)