Shrewsbury prisoner who drew sex pictures of children jailed

A 46-year-old man has been jailed for six months after almost 200 hand-drawn pictures of children engaging in sexual acts were found in his cell at Shrewsbury’s Dana Prison.

The images were discovered in James Sibley’s cell on April 23, Shrewsbury Crown Court heard yesterday.

Sibley admitted possession of prohibited images of children but denied, and was found not guilty of, a charge of beaching a sex offender order. He was given six months in prison and ordered to sign the Sex Offender Register for five years.

Sibley, of no fixed abode, was serving a four year sentence for attempting to abduct a boy in 2008.

Mr Andrew Barkley, prosecuting, said: “Police received information that he might have articles in his cell which might be of interest.

“They searched his cell and found rolls of paper hidden in a washing powder box. “He said he had drawn them himself and accepted they depicted children under 16. He said they were for his own personal benefit.

“The drawings appear to suggest they are part of a story.” In total 197 pictures were found.

Sibley claimed he had been advised to draw images as part of his therapy, the court heard.

Sibley had served his sentence for the attempted abduction but was immediately arrested on his release on May 6. He has since been moved to HM Dovegate Prison in Uttoxeter.

Mr Edward Burgess, for Sibley, said the images did not cause children to be exploited.

He said: “What the pictures represent is Mr Sibley’s thought process but there was no exploitation of children.”