Sex offender who tried to evade being sentenced is jailed for more than 3 years

A sex offender who tried to evade being sentenced for downloading more than 9,000 indecent images of children has now been jailed.

Warren Bone was convicted on 16 May this year of making and distributing indecent images, as well as possession of extreme pornography.

The 53-year-old was due to be sentenced for these matters on 17 June, but failed to appear in court. He was also under investigation for breaching his Sex Offenders Register notification requirements, by not registering a new address with police within three days of moving home or having no fixed abode.

A warrant was issued for his arrest, and following enquiries including a public wanted appeal for his whereabouts, he was arrested on 21 August.

He was sentenced today (Friday 21 October) at Portsmouth Crown Court for three counts of making indecent images of children, 3 counts of distributing indecent images of children, 1 count of possessing extreme pornography, and one count of failing to comply with his notification requirements.

His Honour Judge Shepherd jailed Bone for 3 years and 7 months.

The court heard that devices belonging to Bone, formerly of Cranleigh Road in Fareham, were seized by police and found to contain 5,586 category C images of children, 1,953 category B images, and 1,898 category A images – the most serious.

After initially denying knowledge of the images that were downloaded to his computer, Bone told police he had a drug problem and would look at the images for his own self-gratification.

DC Martin Timmis said: “Bone poses a clear risk to the public due to his perverse interest in downloading indecent images of children.

“He actively tried to avoid being brought to justice, and knew full well he was wanted by police and the courts.

“I hope that the public remain reassured that we take a robust stance against targeting sex offenders, particularly those who abuse or have an interest in children, and will work tirelessly to get these people off the streets.”