A UNIVERSITY student from Barnton was busted at his hall of residence when police found indecent child images on his phone. 

Dillon Heritage, of Billington Close, had 23 illegal images in all, including nine in category A, the most serious kind.

The total also included seven videos, some of which also fall into category A.  

The 19-year-old was living in halls at Liverpool John Moores University when officers from Cheshire Police’s online child abuse squad traced a category C image uploaded to Snapchat on April 13, 2023 to his mobile phone's IP address.

Officers first went to his family home in Barnton at 6am of February 15, this year, only to be told he was living away at university.

They then went to his halls in Liverpool, where he was arrested and his phone confiscated for forensic analysis, which is when the rest of the images were discovered.

The sports journalism student, now suspended from his course, was later charged with one count of distributing an indecent category C image of a child, three of making images in categories A, B, and C, and one of possessing such images. 

‘Making’ an indecent image, in legal terms, means downloading it, or opening one which has been sent.

Heritage, who has no previous convictions, pleaded guilty to all five charges at Chester Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday, August 13.

He was bailed to return to Chester Crown Court for sentencing on Tuesday, September 17.

Prosecuting, Peter Hussey described the images on Heritage’s phone as ‘a very modest collection by some standards’, adding he fully cooperated with police at every stage of the investigation.

Mr Hussey added there was no evidence of his distributing the category C image on his phone when it was seized by police, but he ‘candidly confessed’ to the offence anyway, along with all the others.

Heritage admitted to officers he had got ‘some sexual pleasure’ from the images, according to Mr Hussey, adding he was ‘glad he was captured when he was’.

Defending, Jim Smith said he agreed with the prosecution’s assessment, adding though his client is now an adult, much of his offending took place when he was 17.

He added: “He has found his introduction to the criminal justice system extremely traumatic, and these proceedings will be a serious stain on his development.

“He was immediately suspended from his university course, meaning he has sabotaged his chance of getting a degree in sports journalism, which is bound to have an ongoing impact on his life."

Mr Smith described Heritage’s case as ‘somewhat exceptional’ before inviting the recorder, Mr Jeremy Lasker, to consider drawing back from imposing a custodial sentence.

Judge Lasker acknowledged Heritage’s frank cooperation with the police, adding: “I fully accept you are remorseful, and you are also a very young man.

“However, each image on your mobile phone screen is an image of a real child who is suffering abuse.

“The continuing viewing of people far removed plays a part in the continuation of this abuse.

“However, I do not believe it is appropriate, or in the public interest, for me to impose a prison sentence.

“Yours is a rare case, and I am sure it will be better dealt with in the community."

Heritage was handed a two-year community order, including 20 rehabilitation activity requirement days, and 120 hours unpaid work.

The judge also made a five-year sexual harm prevention order, meaning Heritage must not delete his internet search history, and must surrender his electronic devices to the police for examination when asked. 

He must also sign the sex offenders register for five years.