In 2021, the Offender Register confirmed that a paedophile, Christopher Garvan, from Northampton, who has been convicted 23 times, was sentenced to three years and three months in prison for the creation and distribution of indecent images of children on Facebook. The individual has been described as “dangerous.”
According to Northampton Crown Court, Christopher Garvan was prohibited from possessing an electronic tablet that contained two videos of the most severe form of indecent imagery and a screenshot from a video.
In November 2020, the 67-year-old resident of Holmecross Road also transmitted the recordings to another Facebook user through an account with a different name but his own image.
Garvan was granted an extended licence period of two years and nine months upon his release from prison due to the substantial risk of severe harm he poses to children.
Her Honour Judge Rebecca Crane made the following statement to him: “I do find you dangerous, and children are at a very real risk of sexual offences being committed against them by you.”
The tablet, which the police were unaware of, was discovered by an offending manager during a visit to Garvan’s residence on November 25, last year.
The defendant was subject to stringent recommendations regarding his internet access and devices due to his prior convictions for sexual offences against minors.
Garvan initially denied possessing the tablet to officers but eventually admitted to it. The fake Facebook account and messages soliciting sexual photos from a minor were discovered.
The defendant was apprehended and acknowledged conversing with a child online; however, he maintained that he was unaware of the child’s age.
Police officers discovered a notebook on January 18 that contained details of names and Facebook accounts that corresponded with those on the tablet. This discovery was made following another home visit.
Garvan, who was now prohibited from accessing the internet, denied any knowledge of the matter. However, Judge Crane stated, “It was evident that it was your notebook.”
The defendant had created the indecent images between September 16 and November 25, 2020, and had sent them on November 2 and 8, 2020, according to the police.
Garvan has attempted to deny that he has a sexual interest in minors; however, Judge Crane has stated that this is “clearly not true.”
The judge stated, “You have now acknowledged that you require assistance and desire it, which is a positive development for those who can collaborate with you while you are in custody.”
In addition to the indecent images, Garvan breached his notification obligations for the sex offenders register in November 2020, 2018, and 2014.
The defendant entered a plea of guilty to the indecent image allegations at the Crown Court and to the aforementioned offences at Northampton Magistrates’ Court.
The most pertinent of his 23 previous convictions were those in 2008, which involved 11 sexual offences against children, as well as grooming and compelling a child under 13 to witness a sexual act.
Garvan was sentenced to two concurrent 27-month prison terms for the distribution of indecent images and five concurrent 12-month terms for the consecutive breaches of the sex offenders register and the images.
He will serve two years before becoming eligible for parole and will spend the additional time on licence. Additionally, he will be on the sex offenders register for the rest of his life.
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