A MAN has been jailed for possessing and distributing indecent photographs of children and breaching a sexual harm prevention order after an investigation by West Mercia Police's Operation Safenet team.

Daniel Beechey, aged 28, of Evesham, was jailed for a total of three and a half years after pleading guilty at Worcester Crown Court on Friday, June 16, and he was sentenced on the same day to 18 months jail for possessing a category A indecent image of a child, 12 months for possessing a category B indecent image of a child, six months for possessing a category C indecent image of a child, 12 months for distributing category B and C indecent images of children, and two years for breaching a sexual harm prevention order, by using a software tool to attempt to hide his use of the internet.

He will also be on the sex offenders register and the subject of an indefinite sexual harm prevention order.

Beechey was arrested and charged in May, following examination of computer equipment.

DC Damian Murray said: "A child is victimised not only when they are abused and an image is taken - they are re-victimised every time that image is viewed by someone. This case sends a clear message that the internet is not a safe anonymous space for sharing indecent images of children. Those that access such images should know that they can and will be traced and prosecuted."