A BRADFORD man received a suspended sentence for breaching a sexual harm prevention order by downloading an app designed to “camouflage” his internet browser history.

In a case heard at Bradford Crown Court today (Thursday), David Taylor, 57, of Cheltenham Road, Bradford, was sentenced to 14 months in prison, which was suspended for two years, for a breach of a sexual harm prevention order (SHPO).

The Crown prosecutor in the case said the breach stems from a charge made in 2022 when Taylor, who was subject to a five-year SHPO after being found guilty in Taunton Crown Court of viewing / making indecent child images n 2018, had downloaded an app to disguise his internet browser history.

The prosecutor said: “In an unanswered visit to his house in September 2022, a police constable examined his phone and found he had downloaded the app Duck Duck Go which disguises internet use."

The breach occurred between March 3, 2022, and September 25, 2022, when he deleted and re-installed it on a number of occasions.

The prosecutor said he used the app to download extreme pornography and Taylor admitted to police at the time that he had searched for some “awful stuff” but not images of children.

“He was convicted in Taunton Crown Court in 2018 of viewing and making illegal images of children. It was just shy of 6,200 indecent images of children and 150 videos.”

Judge Ahmed Nadim said: “This is a very serious breach. This defendant has knowingly downloaded this app to camouflage the use of the internet and designed minimise surveillance detection.

“You deleted and re-installed the app on a number of occasions.

“You were searching for adult pornography.

“I do not conclude that what you were doing in 2017 is what you were doing this time, nevertheless, it was a deliberate breach of a sexual harm prevention order. And it was a persistent breach.

“You did have an interest in child pornography.

Taylor’s defence solicitor, Mr Morris, who noted his client had an interest in “non-illegal pornography”, said: “He recognised his culpability and pleaded guilty at the first opportunity.”

In handing down Taylor’s sentence, Judge Nadim said: “I sentence you to 14 months in prison, which is suspended for two years. You also must complete 30 days of rehabilitation activity do 200 hours of unpaid work.

“Ultimately you need to change yourself, and in the norms set by society, do not show an interest in child pornography.

“You’re a very lucky man not to be going down those steps into the cells.”