Sex offender branded 'barely functioning human being' sentenced

A sex offender described as a "barely functioning human being" has been sentenced for possessing indecent images of children.

Carey Lyons, with an address at Claremont House on Richmond Avenue in Londonderry, was handed a sentence of four years and four months at Belfast Crown Court on Wednesday.

The 67-year old was sentenced for two sets of offences committed in October 2020 and March 2023.

In March 2023 police searched Lyons' flat in Derry. He had been in hospital and after staff observed a laptop in his room, they alerted police.

A number of devices including phones and a laptop were seized and examined.

At the time of his arrest Lyons was both a registered sex offender and the subject of a Sexual Offences Prevention Order (SOPO).

The pensioner made full admissions to possessing indecent images of children and breaching his SOPO, when interviewed following his arrest.

He also pleaded guilty to charges of possessing indecent images of children and possessing extreme pornographic images dating back to October 2020.

Citing Lyons' "very significant criminal record for similar offending going back decades" as an aggravating factor, Judge Raffety said the defendant continues to re-offend.

His lawyer told the judge "the reality is that Carey Lyons is a totally and utterly inadequate human person who is devoid of any relationship with anybody".

Claiming Lyons had a low IQ, his lawyer said that when he feels stressed Lyons breaches court orders "by going to get a laptop, he goes online, downloads images and waits for the Police Service of Northern Ireland to come and knock on his door. That is the pattern."

Mr Barlow added that Lyons does not share the images or "hang around in chatrooms".

Lyons has been in custody since his arrest in November 2023.

The defence barrister also spoke of Lyons ailing health and the need for suitable accommodation following his release.

The judge described Lyons as a "barely functioning human being" who lives an isolated life and cannot live independently. He said his health needs were "complex."

The judge said it was "beyond question" that a custodial sentence was necessary and imposed a sentence of four years and four months, divided equally between prison and supervised licence upon his release.

Lyons will be the subject of a SOPO until March 2033 and is already on the Sex Offenders Register.