Sex offender jailed for breaching conditions

A convicted sex offender has been jailed for breaching the conditions of his Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO) by having a profile on an internet dating site and deleting his internet search history as well as failing to tell officers about his relationship.

Paul Thomas, aged 41 of no-fixed address, admitted breaching a SHPO and two charges of failing to comply with the notification requirements of the sex offenders’ register, prior to sentencing at Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court on Friday (4 August).

He was handed a two-year prison sentence.

The court heard how Thomas was arrested in October last year after it was discovered he had been speaking to a number of women on an online dating site.

An examination of his mobile phone revealed he had deleted a total of 6,529 separate web history items, 507 internet search items and messages between four contacts from the online dating site.

Thomas also failed to inform officers of his relationship with a woman who had three children.

Police Constable Sarah Gifford, said: “Thomas thought he could lie and deceive police about his activities and cover his tracks.

“I’m glad he has been handed a custodial sentence and hope it goes to show how we continue to monitor sexual offenders in order to bring them to justice.”

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