Devon paedophile caught with obscene pictures on phone

A hotel worker has been jailed after police found child abuse images on his phone. Steven Burrell, 60, downloaded dozens of indecent photos and exchanged sick messages online with another paedophile.

Police seized his phone after visiting the hotel in North Devon where he worked, a court heard. He admitted four offences when he appeared at Exeter Crown Court and has been sentenced to two years in prison.

Prosecutor Ian Graham said police acted after receiving intelligence of an online account uploading an indecent image of children. The account was linked to Burrell at his address in Hartland near Bideford.

Police went to the hotel where he worked and arrested him. They examined two phones and discovered 27 Category A images; 10 Category B and 27 Category C.

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They also found he had a Kik Messager account which Mr Graham said "is often associated with this type of activity". Burrell had used it to upload a Category A image as part of a chat.

The defendant, of Hartland, had two previous convictions for penetrative sexual activity with children dating back to 2008. Kelly Scrivener, defending, said Burrell knew he had a sexual interest in children and wanted help to stop offending. He has been doing well in prison and improving his education.

Burrell pleaded guilty to three charges of possessing by downloading indecent images and one of distribution. The offences covered a period of three years.

Judge David Evans said it was a "significant period of time" and banned the defendant from using the internet without police monitoring as part of a 15-year sexual harm prevention order.

He accepted Burrell was genuinely remorseful and had changed his attitude. He said the offences may have been linked to his social isolation but he also had an "undoubted sexual interest in underage children."

Burrell must serve half of his sentence in prison and also sign the sex offender register.