© Tom Blewitt & Zack Griffiths – Predator Awareness

A convicted sex offender has been sentenced to two years and four months in prison after breaching a court order and distributing hundreds of indecent images of children.

Mark Barnes, 43, of Wallers Close in Great Chishill, near Royston, was arrested on January 11, 2024, after police discovered multiple mobile phones and tablets at his home. The devices contained a disturbing cache of illegal material, including 14 category A images—the most severe classification—five category B, and 25 category C images, all of which had been distributed between July 2022 and March 2023.

Further forensic analysis revealed Barnes had also created more than 2,000 indecent images of children: 628 category A, 496 category B, and 1,163 category C.

Barnes, who was placed on the Sex Offenders Register in January 2014 and made subject to a Sexual Offences Prevention Order (SOPO), was found to be in clear breach of both. He initially claimed one of the phones belonged to a neighbour, but officers uncovered another device hidden in a suitcase under a bed, also containing illegal material.

Appearing at Peterborough Crown Court on Tuesday, 4 November, Barnes pleaded guilty to multiple offences, including making and distributing indecent images of children, failing to comply with the Sex Offenders Register, and breaching his SOPO.

In addition to his prison sentence, Barnes was handed an indefinite Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO), prohibiting him from owning any internet-enabled device or using remote storage services such as cloud platforms. He will also be subject to indefinite notification requirements.

All devices seized during the investigation have been destroyed.

Detective Constable Andrew McKeane, who led the investigation, said: 

“Barnes was fully aware his actions were in breach of his SHPO but he chose to ignore it. He showed a blatant disregard for the law and lied about owning the phones and tablets to protect himself.”