September 2014
Norfolk sex offender found with 30,000 indecent images of children
A convicted sex offender, was found to have breached his court order by downloading almost 30,000 indecent images of children on two laptops, which he tried to hide from police, when they made checks on him, a court heard.
Paul Frior, 30, had already been convicted of downloading indecent images of children in 2009, and as part of his punishment he was made subject to a sexual offences prevention order, which restricts his use of the internet, Norwich Crown Court heard.
Chris Youell, prosecuting, said as a registered sex offender Frior was subject to regular checks and when police searched his Mattishall home, in February, this year, they found two laptops which Frior had tried to hide, which contained thousands of indecent images of children.
One laptop had more than 14,000 images and the other computer had more than 13,000 images. He also had a number of videos and 298 indecent cartoon images of children.
Mr Youell said that despite knowing he was in breach of his order, on two further occasions police seized more computer equipment.
In interview, Frior admitted that the child images had become an obsession and Mr Youell added: “He said he needs help.”
Frior, of Burgh Lane, Mattishall, admitted being in breach of his court order and making indecent images of children between January 2012 and February 2, 2014 and was jailed for three and half years.
John Morgans, for Frior, said that the images were “almost a compulsion” for him.
“He finds it very difficult not to access the images.”
He added: “He is absolutely genuine that he wants to get help.”
