In 2019, the Offender Database reported that David Driver, then 47, of Great Thornton Street, Hull, East Yorkshire, avoided an immediate return to prison after being caught accessing child abuse material while a patient at Castle Hill Hospital. Driver, a convicted sex offender, “callously” befriended an 80-year-old fellow patient to borrow his laptop under false pretences.
The investigation revealed that, in the early hours of 1 August 2018, Driver accessed the internet twice to search for prohibited material. He used explicit paedophile search terms, including those referencing “incest” and “Lolita.” A vigilant nurse, aware of Driver’s status on the Sex Offenders Register, checked the device’s history upon its return and alerted the authorities.
During the proceedings at Hull Crown Court, the prosecution emphasised that Driver was caught with six computer-generated prohibited images. These included material that would be classified as Category A—the most extreme level—depicting sexual activity with a child as young as five. The images featured speech bubbles providing graphic descriptions of the abuse. In police interviews, Driver admitted using the search terms but “dishonestly” claimed he had not “made” the images because he hadn’t technically downloaded them.
Judge David Tremberg reported that Driver had previously undergone sex offender treatment programmes in his late 20s and early 30s, but these “appear to have worn off.” The judge emphasised that while Driver deserved to be in prison, society would be better protected if he remained in the community to undergo more intensive “rehabilitation” as an “unreconstructed sex offender.”
As a result of his conviction for possessing prohibited images, David Driver was handed a two-year community order. This includes 29 group sessions on the Horizon sex offender programme and 15 days of rehabilitation activity. He was ordered to register as a sex offender for five years and was made subject to an indefinite Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO). He is managed under Multi-Agency Public Protection Arrangements (MAPPA) by Humberside Police, ensuring his behaviour and digital access in Hull are strictly monitored to prevent further “vile” attempts to target children.
If you or anyone you know has been affected by the individuals highlighted on this website, please report them to the Police on 101 (999 in an emergency) or visit their online resources for further details on reporting a crime. You can also report to Crimestoppers if you wish to remain completely anonymous. There is help available on our support links page.