A YOUNG Andover man has been spared prison again after pleading guilty to downloading almost 200 child images.

Daniel McMillan, of Chatsworth Drive, was handed a suspended sentence at Winchester Crown Court last Thursday after pleading guilty to 11 counts of downloading sexual images of children between the ages of six and 10.

The sentence means the 20-year-old has escaped a custodial term for the second time after he was convicted of a similar offence in 2014, when he was caught with over 600 images, including 60 of penetrative sex and a ‘moving image’.

Last year McMillan was handed a Sexual Harm Prevention Order and it was due to one of the conditions, that police could spot check his electronic devices, that he was caught once again in January this year.

Prosecutor Thomas Wright said McMillan had downloaded 191 grade C images and one grade B image from the internet before saving them into his ‘photograph’ section of his mobile phone.

The photos were of boys aged between six and 10 and were described by Mr Wright as for McMillan’s “sexual pleasure”.

McMillan pleaded guilty to all 11 counts as well as a separate count of breaking his Sexual Offences Order by failing to attend an annual meeting with the police.

Defending, Robert Simpson said McMillan had mistaken the date of the meeting, which he believed to be on June 27 instead of the actual date of May 29.

Mr Simpson described it as “an easy mistake to make”, claiming that McMillan had memorised June 27 as it was “the day after his birthday”.

Mr Simpson also pleaded with Judge Douglas Field to take into account that the offence was “less serious” than his last and that he had committed the acts during a period where he had not had “proper rehabilitation”.

He said: “When he downloaded these images there had not been any serious intervention.

“In fact up until April this year he had not done any proper work with the probation service.

“He has taken full responsibility for his actions and has cooperated with the probation service as well.

“He has also been seeking help outside the probation service, particularly for his depression and wants to change his life.”

Sentencing McMillan, Judge Field said: “You are a young man in his 20s who obviously has issues.

“You pleaded guilty at the first opportunity and have taken responsibility for your actions.

“I take into account that the category of offences are almost all grade C with one grade B and that this took place before you had started to be rehabilitated.

“Having said that you do have previous accounts of this nature and because of this I am going to impose a sentence of three months imprisonment suspended for 12 months.

“You will also be required to do 12 months of voluntary work for the benefit of the community.

“If you do offend again it is highly likely you will go straight into custody.”

McMillan was ordered to pay an £80 victim surcharge, but does not have to pay court costs due to his “current circumstances”.

His existing Sexual Harm Prevention Order, given to him following last year’s conviction, has been over-written by a new order lasting five years.

The order means he will be unable to use any electronic device which can delete internet history or block the recording of internet history. He will be required to submit electrical devices such as his phone or laptop to the police when requested.