A FORMER dentist ‘simply couldn’t stop himself’ from downloading more than 1,000 images of children and using Wifi in pubs to view illicit content.

Andrew Wolverson, who has been jailed twice in the last 12 years for similar offences, now finds himself back in prison after admitting the offences as well as breaching a sexual harm prevention order.

The 69-year-old, formerly of Webbs Court, Northwich, appeared at Chester Crown Court on Wednesday, October 26, from custody – where he has been since May – and was handed a three-year sentence.

Andrew Green, prosecuting, told the court how the former dentist, with more than 25 years of experience, was first convicted in July 2009, but despite a two-year prison sentence and working with the probation service on rehabilitation, was jailed again in 2018.

He added it was while making a routine compliance visit to Wolverson's home on May 26 this year to check his devices, that police became suspicious.

Mr Green said: "Despite initially denying there were any other devices, he eventually showed police to two consoles and a mobile phone, which were kept in a cupboard in the bedroom.

"They also found five memory cards and lists of names of various websites.

"He later admitted to officers how he had even used Wifi in pubs to view sexually explicit images of children."

Wolverson knew what he was doing, he added.

The devices were examined and found to contain 1,012 images of children, with 134 of these being in the highest and most serious category.

Northwich Guardian: Andrew Wolverson, a former dentist, has been jailed for three years

Andrew Wolverson, a former dentist, has been jailed for three years

Ember-Jade Wong, defending, said only how remorseful her client was and he had a clear acceptance of what he had done.

She said: "He felt isolated during the pandemic and fell back into old ways.

"He knows that is no excuse and he wants to change."

Judge Steven Everett, the Honorary Recorder of Chester, told Wolverson he had now completely ignored the terms of a sexual harm prevention order on two separate occasions.

"You understand the harm that happens to the children in these images, but that hasn't stopped you," he said

"It comes down to this – you simply cannot stop yourself.

"Not only did you download these images, but you did your very best to hide them from the police."

He sentenced Wolverson to serve a total of three years – two for downloading and possessing the indecent images and 12 months for breaching the order, which will be served consecutively.

Judge Everett also made him the subject an indefinite sexual harm prevention order and he will be on the sex offenders register for the rest of his life.