Sex Offender Busted with Secret Stash of Child Abuse Images
Kent Police have hauled in Paul Webster after a shock discovery during a routine check. The 56-year-old, already under strict sexual harm prevention orders, was caught hiding illegal images and breaking critical court rules.
Hidden Phones and USB Sticks Found During Police Visit
Webster was slapped with a Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO) after his 2017 conviction for making indecent images of children at Maidstone Crown Court. The SHPO tightly restricted his internet use and required him to hand over devices for inspection when asked.
On 14 February 2024, officers visited his Chatham home. Webster handed over a phone with no internet access and claimed that was all. But a search found two internet-enabled phones cleverly hidden, along with 11 USB sticks and an SD card.
Grim Discovery: Worst Category Child Abuse Images Found
One of the phones contained indecent images of children, including some from the most serious category. He had also used a browser that didn’t retain internet history – an attempt to cover his tracks.
Worse still, Webster had illegally acquired a bank card without notifying police, breaching his sex offender notification rules.
Three Years and Nine Months Behind Bars
Webster was charged with multiple offences: creating indecent images, breaching his sexual harm prevention order, and failing to comply with sex offender notification laws.
He pleaded guilty at Maidstone Crown Court and was sentenced on 20 December 2024 to three years and nine months in prison.
PC Areolito Gashi said: “The whole point of giving convicted sex offenders sexual harm prevention orders is to prove they can be trusted to live safely within our communities. This trust comes with the knowledge that police can check on them at any time.”
“Webster blatantly breached his prohibitions and now sits in prison. Other offenders should heed this warning – ignoring these restrictions has serious consequences.”
