A convicted sex offender from Stoke-on-Trent has been given jail time after accessing indecent images of children.

Steven Hawkes, 43, from Basford, was arrested in February after officers who were visiting him to interview him about other offences discovered the images on his phone.

The phone was seized and Hawkes was later charged with six counts of making indecent images of children and two counts of possession of extreme pornography.

Hawkes had previously been convicted of similar offences in 2023 and had been handed a suspended sentence. 

Hawkes had previously been convicted of similar offences in 2023 and had been handed a suspended sentence (Staffordshire Police).

However, at Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court on 1 August, the judge sent him to prison for two years and eight months after Hawkes pleaded guilty to the offences.

Speaking following sentencing, Detective Constable Nathalie Connelly of the sex offender management team, who arrested Hawkes said: "Hawkes is a prolific offender who blatantly ignored court orders and continued to access horrific indecent images of children. 

"I'm pleased that the judge saw fit to send Hawkes to prison for his offending and hope this reassures the community that we continue to do all we can to ensure sex offenders are kept off our streets."

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READ MORE: Deputy Prime Minister visits Stoke-on-Trent to discuss violent disorder in the city

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