In 2026, the Offender Database reported that Tye Shapcott, then 19, of Briar Crescent, Exeter, Devon, was sentenced for downloading a collection of child abuse material. On Wednesday, 4 February 2026, Shapcott appeared at Exeter Magistrates’ Court, where he pleaded guilty to three counts of making indecent images of a child between February and September 2024.
The investigation established that in March 2024, Devon and Cornwall Police identified illicit material being uploaded to a Snapchat account. Digital tracing linked the activity to Shapcott’s home address and a KFC restaurant where he was employed at the time. Following his arrest, a forensic examination of his mobile phone uncovered 20 Category A images—the most extreme level of abuse—along with 13 Category B and eight Category C images. The prosecution reported that some of the files involved children as young as three or four years old.
Judicial Findings and Investigative Detail
The court reported that Shapcott initially claimed his account had been hacked but later admitted responsibility, stating he believed he had a problem. The judge noted that the defendant was 17 at the start of the offending period and had no previous convictions. Jeremy Harris, mitigating, explained that Shapcott is on the autistic spectrum and was experiencing social isolation and stress during the time the offences occurred.
The judge noted that the defendant showed genuine remorse and an understanding of the harm caused to the victims in the images. The prosecution emphasised that the offending occurred both at home and at a public takeaway where Shapcott was at work. For his crimes in Exeter, the court determined that a community-based order focused on rehabilitation and unpaid work was the most appropriate way to address his behaviour and ensure future public protection.
Sentence and Statutory Requirements
For his crimes in England, Tye Shapcott was handed:
- Community Order: A community order including a rehabilitation activity requirement and unpaid work.
- SHPO: A Sexual Harm Prevention Order for five years.
- Sex Offenders Register: Notification requirements were activated for five years.
- Financial Penalty: Ordered to pay a £114 surcharge and £85 in costs.
- Forfeiture: His mobile phone was ordered to be destroyed.
Monitoring and Public Protection
Shapcott is managed under Multi-Agency Public Protection Arrangements (MAPPA) by Devon and Cornwall Police and the Probation Service. Due to the possession of Category A material involving very young children, his conduct is subject to oversight by the Public Protection Unit.
As a registered sex offender, Shapcott must comply with the mandatory notification requirements regarding his residence at Briar Crescent, Exeter, Devon. Authorities state that his five-year SHPO is a vital measure to ensure strict monitoring of his internet and digital device use. Any breach of his registration conditions, his community order, or his SHPO will result in his immediate arrest and return to Exeter Magistrates’ Court.
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