A convicted sex offender has again avoided immediate imprisonment after admitting possessing more than 200 indecent images of children – despite claiming he had requested adult pornography before being sent the illicit file.
Vella, now of Greenwood Avenue in Salford, but previously of Church Road in Wootton, was placed on the sex offenders register for 5 years in 2023 after he was caught by ‘paedophile hunters’ attempting to meet who he thought were underage girls.
As previously reported by Island Echo in October 2023, Vella avoided prison, receiving just a 2-year community order and a 5-year stint on the sex offenders register for his vile acts.
Earlier this year in March, Vella pleaded guilty to possessing over 200 indecent images of children. The defendant was caught with the haul on 8th April 2024, just 174 days after he was previously convicted. He appeared before a judge at Portsmouth Crown Court earlier this week (Friday)
The court heard how the latest offences came to light when Vella admitted to being in possession of a ‘zip file’ of indecent images during a Police visit. When quizzed by officers, Vella said he had moved the file to a “secret folder” on his phone. Vella said to officers he had requested a file of adult pornography but ended up with a file of child abuse images instead.
The age of the children depicted was between 5-7, court heard.
Vella was found to be in possession of 102 Category A images, including 7 of the most extreme kind, 88x Category B and 28x Category C, a total of 218.
Defending Vella, Oscar Vincent told the court that the offences were over 2 years old and that his client hadn’t re-offended since. He also added that his client – who has “complex neurodiversity needs” – had been left injured following attacks by ‘vigilante’ groups.
The court heard how Vella had been “doing well” on his current community order and is eligible for supervision in the community.
Handing down his sentence, Judge Melville KC, told the court that unlike his previous conviction, “this time the children were real”. He went on to say that the treatment Vella has been subject to from vigilante groups was “shocking and outrageous”.
Vella was handed a 10-month prison sentence, suspended for 18-months. A total of 15 rehabilitation activity days and 80 hours of unpaid work were attached.
The 33-year-old was warned that any further offences of this nature would mean “you go to prison”.
The phone containing the illicit images is to be destroyed.
