A man has been jailed for more than three years for 20 offences including the distribution of indecent images of children.

Alan Hannaby from Ranelagh Road, Sheerness, was sentenced at Maidstone Crown Court today (Wednesday) after previously pleading guilty to 10 offences of distributing indecent images of children and 10 offences of making indecent images of children.

Police carried out a search warrant at the 51-year-old’s home on December 22, 2008, and he was arrested.

Kent Police’s digital forensics unit examined computer equipment seized from his home and found evidence of indecent images and movies of children.
They found 2,356 images ranging from level one to five and eight movies also ranging from level one to five.

The court heard how Hannaby had previous convictions for indecent assault on two women/girls and inciting gross indecency and gross indecency in 1995.

He has been sentenced to three and a half years imprisonment and is also required to sign the sex offenders’ register.

Senior investigating officer DC Mark Tyler said: “Hannaby has repeatedly demonstrated that he is a danger to children.

“His distribution of images of children being abused serves to encourage further abuse and continues to victimise vulnerable children featured in the picture.”

• Anyone who has information on this type of crime can ring Kent Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 and anyone who is involved in this type of crime and wants to stop can visit the website stopitnow.org