A man who hid devices at his flat containing over a thousand indecent images of children has been jailed.
Warren David Manners, 45, (04.10.77) of Sowerby Close, Eltham was sentenced to two years and eight months’ imprisonment at Woolwich Crown Court on Thursday, 4 May. He had previously pleaded guilty to three counts of making indecent Images of children, one count of possession of indecent images of children and three counts of breach of a Sexual Harm Prevention Order.
Manners is a Registered Sex Offender having previously been convicted of possessing indecent images of children. He had been issued with a Sexual Harm Prevention Order which prohibited him from being in possession of digital devices or devices that enable access to the internet without first notifying his local Jigsaw (sex offenders management) unit.
On 22 March, officers from the Met’s Online Child Sex Abuse and Exploitation Team executed a search warrant at Manners’ address. Manners initially denied owning any phones, tablets, or laptops, but officers found a total of 32 digital devices hidden throughout his flat including in cupboard with multiple locks. Officers also found hundreds of still photographs of children inside the flat.
Officers established that 21 of the digital devices seized contained indecent images of children. In total officers found 447 Category A Indecent Images of Children, 241 Category B Indecent Images of Children and 333 Category C Indecent Images of Children. They also found a Category C Indecent Photograph of a child.
Manners was charged and attended Bromley Magistrates’ Court on 23 March. Due to the strength of evidence, he pleaded guilty at his first hearing and was remanded in custody.
Detective James Cronin of the OCSAE (Online Child Sexual Abuse & Exploitation) team from Central Specialist Crime said: “Manners is by his own admission a paedophile who has repeatedly ignored court orders put in place to help him desist from his criminal behaviour. This court result shows that Met officers will do everything possible to bring perpetrators to justice. “
Superintendent Helen Flanagan, Specialist Crime, said: “Thanks to the dedication of specialist officers from the Online Child Sexual Abuse and Exploitation unit we were able to bring this offender to justice and make London a safer place for children.
“Officers from this dedicated unit are working tirelessly to take predators off the streets. Should anyone have information regarding child sex abuse please don’t hesitate to get in contact with the police via 101. In an emergency, dial 999.”
