A registered sex offender 'addicted to illegal pornography' installed 'anti-forensic software' on his computer to avoid detection - before being caught with sick images of children.
James Thomas, 27, was stung by officers investigating sex offenders online. He downloaded 49 indecent images.
GMP experts searched his computer and discovered he had used software to attempt to avoid detection. Just two months earlier, a sentence for a similar offence had come to an end.
Thomas, from Bury, was sentenced to a community order in 2014 for possession of indecent images, Manchester Magistrates' Court heard.
In December 2017, it was discovered he had used an IP address linked to his home address to access illegal pornographic material.
Prosecutor Kate Draper said an operation was carried out by GMP into people suspected of downloading and distributing indecent images of children.
“An IP address was identified, and after further enquiries were made, the IP address was linked to the address of the defendant,” she said.
Read more of today's top stories
“A search warrant was issued at Tameside Magistrates' Court on August 13, 2018, and later executed on September 10 at the defendant's address.
“When arriving at the address, the defendant’s parents were present, as was the defendant.
“A call was placed and after he had been contacted on the telephone, he admitted to re-offending.
“49 category C images were found.”
The court heard Thomas committed similar offences in 2014 and was ordered to sign the sex offender register for five years.
Prosecutors described the offending as 'sophisticated' as Thomas used anti-forensic software.
In mitigation, it was said Thomas had been addicted to illegal pornography, but was able to control his addiction when supervised by the probation service.
Defence lawyer, Roger Taylor said: “In his pre-sentence report, it says he had been addicted to illegal pornography, and subject to the supervision he was able to control matters.
"Once this ended, he slipped back and this followed to him being arrested for the second conviction by the police.
“He has been able to be medically aware of what he is doing and now he is only looking at strictly legal materials.
“Obviously he is in this situation which has placed himself back before the court again. He acknowledges his wrongdoing without trying to blame anybody else.
“He helps looking after his mum and lives at home.
“He is a well -regarded member of the team, he tells me the ‘most profitable’ employee, and at home he is a loving and caring son.
“The thing that upsets him is the distress caused to those around him, it’s very important to him. It’s those around you that suffer, some people don’t care if they are sent to prison, he does and he recognises that.
“He is not ambitious, he would admit. He is clearly intelligent. The job he does he enjoys, but it does not push him.
“He says when he is busy he is focused, but when he has time on his hands, then this seems to be when his mind has wandered."
Thomas, of Garston Street, pleaded guilty to making indecent images of children and was sentenced to 26 weeks in prison, suspended for 2twp years.
Chair of the bench, Larry Collier said: “You had only just completed your last order and you were still on the register when you committed this offence.
“You had also installed anti-forensic software, used to attempt to conceal your actions.
“We find this does cross the custody threshold, but we have reason to suspend it.”
Thomas will be supervisedfor two years. He was ordered to complete the Horizon programme, offered to men who have committed sexual offences and are at risk of reoffending.
He was also ordered to complete 200 hours of unpaid work and pay £200 court costs.
Thomas will be on the sex offender register for five years, and was made the subject of a five-year sexual harm prevention order.
