Tye Shapcott – Exeter

An Exeter pervert who downloaded indecent images of very young kids while he was working at a takeaway had his phone seized and must do unpaid community work.

Magistrates at Exeter handed a 19-year-old man a community order after he admitted making indecent images of children

Tye Shapcott, of Briar Crescent, Exeter, pleaded guilty to three counts of making indecent images of a child between February and September 2024.

The court heard that in March 2024 police identified indecent material being uploaded on Snapchat.

A username linked to the account was traced to two addresses, one being Shapcott’s home address and the other a KFC restaurant, where he was employed at the time.

Shapcott was arrested at his home. His mobile phone was seized, and an examination of the device revealed Category A, B and C images, with A showing the rape or torture of young children.

Some of the images involved children as young as three or four years old.

Prosecuting, Miss Baker told the court that Shapcott initially claimed his account may have been hacked, but later admitted responsibility for the material and said he believed he might have a problem.

His defence said that Shapcott has a very supportive family and is now working in a warehouse.

Shapcott was issued with a community order, including a rehabilitation activity requirement and unpaid work. He was also ordered to pay a £114 surcharge and £85 in costs.

His mobile phone was forfeited, and he was made subject to a Sexual Harm Prevention Order for five years.