Latest Offenders Kent

Description

A Sittingbourne man who sexually abused vulnerable children over several years has received 23 years' imprisonment.

Matthew Smith’s offending started in 2008 and he went on to target four victims over subsequent years.

In 2020, one of his victims disclosed their ordeal to a trusted third party and then contacted the police. Further victims were later identified as the investigation progressed.

Arrested

Smith, formerly of Sittingbourne, was arrested on 1 March 2020, and was later charged with multiple offences against children including rape and sexual touching.

He was also charged with sexual communication with a child after he contacted another victim online.

Smith pleaded not guilty at Maidstone Crown Court and was convicted of 32 indictments following a trial.

Sentenced

On Friday 24 January 2025, Smith, aged 39, was given an extended sentence of 31 years. This has a custodial period of 23 years of which he will have to serve two thirds before he is eligible for parole.

On his release, Smith, will have to serve a further eight years on licence. He will also be subject to a sexual harm prevention order and sex offender notification requirements indefinitely.

Description

A sex offender who hid storage devices from police officers, breaching a court order, has been jailed.

Bryan Gregory, from Minster on Sheppey, pleaded guilty at Canterbury Crown Court in 2014 to making and possessing indecent images of children.

As a result, he was given an indefinite Sexual Offences Prevention Order (SOPO).

This placed strict conditions on his behaviour, including how he uses digital storage devices and mobile phones, as well as how he accesses the internet.

The 76-year-old was ordered to make devices available for inspection on request.

As part of the management of those on the sex offenders’ register, Gregory was subject to regular visits by police to ensure his compliance with the court order.

During a visit last January, officers became suspicious that he had used a mobile phone inappropriately and the phone was seized. Further enquiries led to Gregory being arrested.

Additional digital storage devices were recovered following a search of his address and on Saturday, September 14 he was charged.

Gregory pleaded guilty to making indecent images of children and breaching a SOPO.

He was sentenced on Tuesday (January 21) at Canterbury Crown Court to four years in prison and will spend a further four years on licence upon release.

Detective Sergeant Vicky Whitmill said: “Gregory’s disturbing behaviour – together with the complete contempt he demonstrated in breaching the terms of his court order, which was in place to protect vulnerable children – means it is right that he is behind bars.

“Proactive and regular checks are carried out on sex offenders to ensure they are complying with the requirements to which they are subject.

“Where breaches are found to have occurred, offenders will be arrested and brought before the court to take accountability for their actions.”

Description

A child rapist who subjected his victims to “depraved and sickening” abuse has been jailed.

Wayne Traill, of Stonebridge Road, Northfleet, was convicted of 21 separate offences after repeatedly abusing multiple victims for more than a decade.

The 52-year-old targeted one of his victims during the 1990s and went on to later exploit a further two children, warning them they would not be believed if they reported his crimes.

Police officers were told of the abuse in March 2022 and Traill was arrested.

He refused to comment during interviews and initially denied any wrongdoing at court.

However, he eventually pleaded guilty shortly before a trial at Woolwich Crown Court, admitting charges including rape, attempted rape, sexual assaults and gross indecency.

On December 19, Traill was jailed for 21 years after the judge branded him “a dangerous sexual offender” who had “groomed and abused” his victims.

Upon his release from prison, Traill will be subject to an extended licence period of eight years and will be on the sex offenders’ register indefinitely.

Detective Constable Daniel Grant, who led the investigation, said: “Traill repeatedly subjected his victims to depraved and sickening abuse, causing incalculable damage to their young lives.

“He is a predatory child sex offender who used fear and intimidation to obtain sexual gratification, and whose deplorable actions will sadly have a lasting and profound impact on those he targeted.

“The fact justice has finally been served is largely down to the incredible courage and bravery of his victims and I am grateful Traill is at least now behind bars where he can cause no further harm to other young children.”

Description

Kent Police has a team of officers dedicated to checking the conduct of registered sex offenders, to ensure they are complying with any conditions imposed by a court following a conviction.

Paul Webster was issued with a sexual harm prevention order (SHPO) following his conviction on 1 September 2017 at Maidstone Crown Court, for making indecent images of children.

The SHPO had several prohibitions around his use of the internet, alongside a requirement to allow officers to inspect his computers and other devices.

Inspection 

On Wednesday 14 February 2024, two officers visited Webster’s home and asked him to present any phones or computers in his possession for inspection. He gave the constables a phone that was not enabled for the internet and claimed he had no other devices.

A search of the premises found two internet enabled phones, one under a pillow, 11 USB sticks and an SD card. One of the phones contained indecent images of children including some in the most serious category, and a browser that did not retain internet history.

Webster’s actions were evidence of multiple breaches of his SHPO. Officers also found he had acquired a bank card without notifying the police, in contravention of his sex offender notification requirements.

Investigators charged Webster, of Railway Street, Chatham, with making indecent images of a child, failing to comply with sex offender notification requirements and breaching a sexual harm prevention order.

Sentenced

Webster pleaded guilty at Maidstone Crown Court and, on Friday 20 December 2024, the 56 year old was jailed for three years and nine months.

Description

A violent rapist who “poses a very real danger to women” has been jailed for almost 20 years.

Last year, police officers received a report from a victim that John Cooper, of Whitehill Lane, Gravesend, had raped, sexually assaulted and physically attacked her multiple times.

The 29-year-old was immediately arrested and taken into custody before being charged with rape, sexual assault, assault occasioning actual bodily harm and intentional strangulation.

He was remanded in custody and while detectives were completing their inquiries, they found a second woman who said the suspect had put her through a similar ordeal in 2018.

Cooper was produced from prison on May 23, interviewed, and received further charges of rape, sexual assault and assault occasioning actual bodily harm.

He pleaded not guilty, however, was convicted following two separate trials at Woolwich Crown Court.

The sex offender was jailed today (December 20) for 18 years, of which he will have to serve at least two thirds before applying for parole.

When he is released from prison, Cooper will have to serve an additional seven years on licence and will be subject to a sexual harm prevention order and have to sign the sex offenders register indefinitely.

Investigating officer Detective Constable Daniel Burnett said: “Cooper is a violent sexual offender who poses a very real danger to women.

“He brutally attacked two victims and subjected them both to an appalling ordeal for his own sexual gratification. He sought to deny he had committed these crimes but is now deservedly serving a very long prison sentence.

“I would like to commend the two victims who showed immense courage in reporting their attacker to the police. They have ensured other women are not in danger from this vile individual.”

Description

A former teacher who sexually abused a pupil during the 1980s has been jailed.

Simon Montgomery taught at Dulwich College Preparatory School, now Dulwich Cranbrook in Coursehorn, Cranbrook.

The former science teacher and boarding school housemaster exploited his position to repeatedly assault a young boy under his care.

The 70-year-old, of Littlefield Road, Rainham, began grooming his victim by instructing him to stay behind after lessons, before showing him explicit magazines.

This moved on to repeated instances of sexual abuse in both the classroom and at a nearby sports facility.

His sentence comes after the allegations were reported to the police in December 2022. Montgomery was arrested and later confessed to officers during interviews, confirming the victim’s name before being asked.

He was charged with two counts of indecent assault and gross indecency with a child and a further charge was added of making indecent images of a child in connection to material found on one of his digital devices.

Montgomery pleaded guilty and at Maidstone Crown Court today (December 19) was sentenced to three years and four months in prison and made subject to a sexual harm prevention order.

Passing sentence, Judge Oliver Saxby KC praised the bravery of the victim in coming forward to reveal to the police what he had endured.

"He summoned the courage to report what you’d done – with all this involves. The feeling of shame – misplaced but real. The feeling of disgust – brought into sharp focus by having to remember it all again.

"And the feeling of life being suspended whilst the case has made its slow way through the court system.

"He said this in his interview: ‘Whatever age you are, you should have to stand up and be counted’.

"The court echoes this sentiment."

During the sentencing hearing it was revealed that although Montgomery has no previous convictions, he was cautioned in 2006 for three offences of sexual activity with a child in respect of children he had taught.

Now a convicted sex offender, the disgraced former teacher will have to sign on the sex offender register for life and will be subject to a sexual harm prevention order for 15 years.

He will also be subject to regulations barring him from working with children.

Description

A 42-year sentence has been imposed on a man who raped and sexually assaulted a number of women and girls in the Dover and Canterbury areas.

Ian Hamilton was charged with numerous sexual offences after Kent Police's Cold Case Investigation Team reviewed a 1988 investigation into an attack on a girl in the village of Hersden.

That in turn linked him to a 1992 report concerning abuse he inflicted on a child in Dover in the mid-1980s.

Cold case investigation

Detectives began tracing and interviewing people who had come into contact with Hamilton around that time, leading to a number of women revealing they had also been the victims of violence and sexual abuse at his hands.

In total, officers identified a further nine women who had been victims of sexual offences between 1977 and 2000, and a man who had been seriously assaulted by him in 1991.

As a result, more than 50 previously unreported offences were investigated and Hamilton was arrested at his home in Snodland in March 2024.

Following his arrest, a computer in his possession was found to contain more than 1,500 indecent images.

The 63 year old stood trial at Inner London Crown Court and was convicted by a jury of all 59 charges including rape, indecent assault and causing grievous bodily harm, having admitted possession of indecent images at the start of the trial.

Jailed

On Friday 13 December 2024, he received a sentence of 42 years and one month. His Honour Judge Silas Reid described Hamilton as 'cunning and sadistic' and a 'monster of the night'.

Description

A sex offender who transported an unconscious woman from Camden to Kent to rape her has been jailed.

Seyi Odeyemi, 23, offered to take the victim home for half the price of a taxi that she was trying to book while in Camden on September 3 last year, at around 10pm.

She agreed to the proposition and got into his car, but instead of taking her home he took her to a hotel near Northfleet, Gravesend.

By the time they arrived the woman appeared semi-conscious and was able to stand, but Odeyemi had to carry and drag her to a room.

Once inside, he raped the victim.

She woke up in the morning confused and not recognising Odeyemi.

After it was reported to police, Odeyemi was arrested days later on September 7.

Police established he breached the conditions of a sexual risk order he was under at the time by failing to make the victim of the order and failing to seek consent for sexual activity.

Odeyemi, of Adams Drive, Willesborough, Ashford, was charged with rape and breaching the order.

He pleaded not guilty and was convicted with both counts on August 14 after a trial at Maidstone Crown Court.

On Thursday (December 4), he received an extended sentence with a total of 10 years and six months' imprisonment.

On his release he is required to complete an additional five years on licence.

He will also have a sexual harm prevention order for 20 years and will have to sign the sex offenders' register indefinitely.

Description

A convicted sex offender who assaulted a child in Gillingham has been handed a further prison sentence.

Ben Hanger, 34, of St Agnes Gardens, Sheerness, was sentenced at Maidstone Crown Court on Wednesday 4 December to four years in jail after he admitted sexual assault against a girl under 13 and inciting a girl to engage in sexual activity. He was also ordered to serve an additional five years on licence.

He abused the young girl at a property between 2016 and 2017 and the offences were reported to Kent Police in 2021.

He was arrested at HMP Elmley, where he is serving a 15-year extended sentence after he was convicted following a trial in December 2022. He was jailed after he attempted to kidnap a schoolgirl in January 2021.

This additional sentencing will be added to his total years to serve.

Description

A family GP who kept his job despite being on the Sex Offender Register for groping a receptionist has been struck off after leaving a female patient in tears over an 'inappropriate' medical examination.

Dr Sanjay Chatterjee, 60, had previously walked free from court and escaped with a nine-month suspension from work after he twice grabbed a receptionist by the bottom and later attempted to kiss her in three separate encounters.

But he was reported to police and the General Medical Council again after he inserted a medical implement inside a woman's vagina without her consent while examining her for suspected haemorrhoids. 

She was left in shock and burst into tears as she told her family about the consultation and  subsequently called police to claim she had been sexually assaulted.

Inquiries revealed married father-of-two Chatterjee had ignored police restrictions on his movements under the terms of the Sex Offender Register by repeatedly flying abroad using a new passport.

At the Medical Practitioners Tribunal Service, Chatterjee who lives in the village of Larkfield near Aylesford, Kent, was ordered to have his name erased from the doctor's register after he was found guilty of serious professional misconduct. 

A panel said his examination of the patient was 'inappropriate and not clinically indicated', but cleared him of sexually motivated conduct.

No criminal action was taken against him over the examination.

Chatterjee was initially reported to police in 2010 and charged with sexual assault after the receptionist at a clinic in Medway and a second woman made complaints about him.

The receptionist said she was working a Saturday shift at the out of hour's service clinic when Chatterjee put his hand on her right buttock while she was sitting in reception leaning forward toward her computer.

Initially the receptionist did not want to make a complaint, but later while looking for a diclofenac injection in a dispensary Chatterjee was said to have stood 'uncomfortably close behind her'.

When she turned to ask for help, she found him about 12 inches away from her face.

He started to talk about her jewellery, and grabbed her shoulders in an attempt to kiss her. 

She escaped by raising her arms in a 'trained conflict resolution move.'

At Maidstone Crown Court in 2011, Chatterjee was convicted of sexually assaulting the receptionist and was given 250 hours unpaid work, ordered to pay £1,000 costs and was ordered to sign the Sex Offender Register for five years. 

He was cleared of seven sex charges involving the second woman after he insisted they were having an affair.

At the time, Chatterjee's loyal wife Sumona, an NHS manager told their local newspaper said: 'He been made to look as if he's a perverse and perverted man but he isn't. He made one silly mistake and that's it.'

Chatterjee himself said: 'I betrayed my wife and family and I am quite ashamed about that - but what has been done cannot be undone. 

'When she heard I had cheated on her she became angry and it was hell. The whole house was in complete shock - it was darkness.'

Chatterjee was temporarily banned from treating patients in July 2014 despite the GMC calling for him to be struck off. 

By March 2015 he was allowed to work again under supervision and eventually returned to unrestricted practice.

But he was back in court again after he was caught flying to Kolkata in India and also Portugal in 2016 as he needed permission from the authorities if he wished to travel abroad and notify them of any changes to his passport.

Inquiries revealed the trips had been booked using a new passport and he was given 84 days in prison, suspended for a year, and was ordered to carry out 200 hours of unpaid work.

He was also ordered to pay £200 costs for failing to comply with notification requirements.

The latest incident occurred at the Aylesford Medical Centre in May 2021 when a female patient known as Ms A was admitted for ulcerative colitis and rectal bleeding. 

She said Dr Chatterjee asked her to get on the examination couch before he picked up a speculum and squeezed lubricant gel on it.

Recalling the examination Ms A said: 'He never went into detail about any of what he was going to do - he just kind of got on with it. I went a little bit tense as it was a little bit sore. 

'He put it in had a look around and said: 'I can't see anything in there, maybe they're further up.' 

I thought 'Oh that's it now' but in the next second he just put it straight into my vagina with no warning, no explanation, nothing.

'I was just so shocked I really didn't know how to react to it at all. He didn't explain it to me.'

A student nurse who witnessed the examination said: 'I remember Dr Chatterjee's communication was really poor. 

'He didn't have an introduction with her at the start of the appointment, he didn't say hello, ask how she was, invite her to take a seat or explain what was going to happen in the appointment. He just said: 'OK get undressed.'

An expert assigned to investigate the incident later said: 'I can see no reason why a vaginal examination was clinically indicated or appropriate, given the presenting symptoms were bowel related and seemed to have nothing to do with her vagina.'

And for the GMC, Ms Jade Bucklow said: 'Patient A was left confused and feeling violated. She contacted friends and family in a distressed state and subsequently had to give evidence to the police so that they could consider whether she had been sexually assaulted.

'All of this arose from Dr Chatterjee's failure to obtain informed consent for intimate examinations and the carrying out of a vaginal examination that was inappropriate and not clinically indicated.'

Chatterjee did not attend the hearing but in a statement said he had no intention of returning to medical practice. 

He added: 'I accept that I carried out the rectal examination of the patient. A chaperone was present. If there was any contact with the patient's vagina then this was unintentional.'

His counsel Martin Forde KC said: 'The doctor resumed his career with no complaints other than the single patient in this case. 

'There was no repetition of any sexually motivated behaviour [from] 2011 to 2024, a period of 13 years.

'The proven charges relate to one patient and one consultation. Clearly, the Panel have found communication could have been better, but such a failure is easily remediable.'

But MPTS chairman Mr Graham White said: ' Dr Chatterjee's failure to obtain Patient A's informed consent caused her emotional harm, leaving her in shock and distress and feeling as if she had been violated. 

Both Patient A's daughter and friend described her as being distressed and in tears when she discussed what had happened to her.

'The fact Dr Chatterjee's registration had previously been suspended in relation to a 2011 conviction for sexual assault against a colleague was a significant aggravating factor. 

'There was no evidence that Dr Chatterjee understood the nature or gravity of his misconduct and convictions and there was no evidence of any attempts by him to address or remediate them.

'There were no expressions of regret or apology.'

Description

A sex offender from Faversham has received a 10 year prison sentence for committing multiple crimes against children.

An investigation was commenced after Kent Police received allegations that Robert Gunner had targeted victims between 2014 and 2017.

He was arrested in June 2022 and officers seized his laptop computer and mobile phone.

Analysis of the content found 226 illegal images of children of which 27 were of the most serious category. A further eight extreme pornographic images were also recovered.

Gunner, of Field End Place, Faversham, was charged and pleaded guilty to causing or inciting a child to engage in sexual activity, making indecent photographs of children, causing a child to watch a sexual act and possessing an extreme pornographic image.

The 42-year-old was sentenced on Thursday 28 November 2024 at Maidstone Crown Court to seven years’ imprisonment.

The judge stated he was a dangerous offender who posed a serious risk to children. On his release, he will remain on licence for an extended period of three years.

Gunner was also made subject of a Sexual Harm Prevention Order for 20 years and was added to the sex offenders’ register for life.

Description

A child abuse victim has been praised for her courage and dignity as the 'dangerous' paedophile responsible begins a lengthy jail term.

A judge told Anthony Collins that although his deviant behaviour had inevitably "wrecked" a period in the girl's life, it had not "broken her spirit".

Canterbury Crown Court heard how, having initially suffered in silence, she finally felt brave enough to report her attacker's depravity.

It was this, said Judge Mark Weekes, that had forced the 55-year-old to "confront" what he had done and admit his guilt in the face of "overwhelming" evidence.

Applauding the victim, he told the sex offender: "You grossly violated her at a time in her life when she was vulnerable. She was left confused and probably frightened.

"She suffered in silence for months, doing her best to cope with the situation.....hating the abuse and feeling unable to speak out....You left her for broken.

"It is beyond any argument that this has had and will have a considerable impact on her life.

“I have read with concern her victim impact statement which sets out the ways in which the abuse impacted on her.
"And yet for all that, the final victory in this case is hers.

“Her courage in coming forward to report you and give evidence against you shows that your abuse did not in fact break her spirit.

“You did not and could not remove her dignity.

"On the contrary, she can have the comfort of knowing that her evidence has been accepted and has been believed.

"She can know that she forced you to confront your own abusive nature and to admit to it.

"She is to be applauded for her bravery in coming forwards in that way. It would not have been an easy step."

Collins, of The Acre, in Whitfield, Dover, pleaded guilty in May to 14 offences of sexual activity with a child, with sentencing adjourned for the preparation of reports.

But when he returned on Friday, the court heard that despite admitting the charges, he had sought to minimise his criminality and try to blame the victim.

Furthermore, the probation officer who assessed Collins had concluded he posed a high risk of re-offending in terms of sexual abuse and exploitation of female children.

In deciding therefore that as a dangerous offender it was necessary to impose an extended sentence for public protection, Judge Weekes told him that although there was "a capacity for remorse and change", the risk he presented required "intensive management" for a long period of time.

Jailing Collins for seven-and-a-half years, of which he will have to serve at least two-thirds before the Parole Board can even consider whether it is safe to release him, the judge said: "I have reached the conclusion that you are dangerous within the meaning of the statute, despite the fact that you are of good character, and despite the letter you have written to me.

"You are no longer a young man and thus the potential for real and lasting change in you is much more limited. However nor will you be old when you are released .
"It is true that you have pleaded guilty, but I judge that to have occurred because you recognised the evidence was overwhelming.

"I also judge that you have sought to minimise your offending very substantially, and seek to attach significant blame to your victim for it.
"From that fact I draw the inevitable conclusion that you lack any deep remorse or insight into your offending."

Collins's denial of a sexual attraction to children was also criticised and highlighted as a further element of risk.

"That failure to acknowledge, coupled with the fact that you victim blame and have only very limited insight, makes you an obvious candidate for further offending if not intensively supervised, in my judgment," continued Judge Weekes.

"As the pre-sentence report author has noted, you engaged in highly risky offending, seemingly oblivious to the chance of being caught.

"It follows that in my judgment although in other respects you are assessed as having respect for the law, you engage in risk-taking offending sexually which in my judgment is apt to make you dangerous.

"You clearly have a significant sexual need and when that sexual desire is not met, or not completely met by an adult, you engage in thoughts of or actual abuse of children.

"It follows that I do consider it necessary to impose an extended sentence in order to protect the public in the future.
"I consider that as you will by no means be an old man on your release, even if you are required to serve the full sentence as you may be, the risk that you pose will need intensive management for a long period of time."

Under the extended sentence, once it is deemed safe to release Collins, he will have a further four-and-a-half years added to any licence period.

He will also be subject to indefinite sex offender notification requirements and barred from working with children and vulnerable adults.

Description

A convicted sex offender has been sentenced to prison after ignoring measures imposed by the courts to prevent him from reoffending.

Sean Royle, 38 and of Claremont Road, Maidstone, breached a Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO) and secretly used a mobile phone in attempts to groom a 13-year-old girl, Kent Police said.

In July 2023, checks by police established Royle was in a relationship with a child.

Royle has used a snapchat account on a different phone to contact a 13-year-old girl.

This was a breach of a previous SHPO previously given to him.

He asked her to be his girlfriend and sent a picture to the child showing his face and naked upper torso which had a distinctive tattoo.

The victim told her father who contacted the police.

'Clear determination'

He was arrested on 29 November 2023, when officers were able to locate and seize the phone.

When the device was analysed it was found to contain almost 200 illegal videos and images, many of which showed unknown children being sexually abused.

He was charged with multiple offences, including engaging in sexual communication with a child, repeated breaches of a sexual harm prevention order and making indecent images of children.

Royle pleaded guilty and on 21 November, he was sentenced at Maidstone Crown Court to three years and eight months in prison and made subject of a new ten-year SHPO.

Description

A former head teacher molested a young girl and then told her not to tell anyone as "everything would go wrong".

In what was described as a "spectacular fall from grace", Anil Gaind also tried to blame the child and later refuted her claim as to how long the indecent touching had lasted.

But at the 61-year-old Bearsted resident's sentencing last week (November 13), a judge told him whatever the length of time was, she had "lost her innocence" that night at his hands.

Gaind, of Button Lane, subsequently pleaded guilty to sexual assault. The offence was not related to his teaching role.

Maidstone Crown Court heard the paedophile touched the girl inappropriately over clothing.

But on deciding he could be spared jail, Judge Julian Smith highlighted the "sinister and chilling" aspects of the abuse, which was reported in March last year.

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He told Gaind that his warped behaviour "brings to an end your good name and good character".

Describing his former career as "impressive and successful", the judge added: "It amounts to a spectacular fall from grace, and for your victim, a life-changing loss of confidence and certainty.

"I think you understand the consequence (of what you did) but I don't think you understand why and there is a good deal to be done by you and for you before you reach an understanding.

"There is always a concern that until you do understand what drove you to behave in this appalling way you remain a risk."

Of the offence itself, Judge Smith continued: "You gave her a massage. But it went on from that and became something far more sinister.

"You say it wasn't for as long as she estimated but that doesn't matter. Whether 20 minutes, five minutes or half-an-hour, that loss of innocence and loss of trust occurred that night.

"She froze and, in a frankly chilling phrase, she said she 'let you finish'. She told you it was wrong and she was going to tell her mum.

"You asked her not to because you said 'everything would go wrong.' You put the blame on her for what you did and the consequences that followed from what you did.

"It was never her fault. None of this could ever be her fault. It was yours."

The court heard that following his arrest Gaind denied having any sexual attraction to children.

His teaching career, which was said to be a long-held ambition and realised in his 40s, came to an end due to ill health.

Referring to the significant impact the abuse had had on his victim, Gaind was told by Judge Smith that it should be "a matter of the most profound shame" for him.

However, he explained that immediate custody was not needed, having taken his background and character into consideration, as well as the help that could be offered to him by the probation service as opposed to a short spell behind bars.

Imposing a 10-month jail term suspended for 18 months, with conditions of a sex offender treatment programme, 30 rehabilitation activity requirements and 180 hours of unpaid work, Judge Smith concluded: "I am sure we will not see you in this court again."

Gaind will be barred indefinitely from working with children and vulnerable adults and subject to a sexual harm prevention order as well as sex offender notification requirements for 10 years.

Description

A registered sex offender has been jailed for a second time after looking at indecent images of children.

Steven Smith, from Sittingbourne, was convicted at Maidstone Crown Court in January 2022 for sexual communication with a child, causing or inciting a girl under 13 to engage in sexual activity and making indecent photographs of children.

He received a prison sentence of two years and seven months.

Upon his release, he was subject to strict sex offender notification requirements (SONR) along with a sexual harm prevention order (SHPO).

This included conditions that allowed police to have access to any device capable of storing images and to install monitoring software on his mobile phone and computer.

Smith was arrested again on May 13, after investigators identified he had accessed seven illegal images of children on his phone.

His home was searched and several bank cards he had failed to log with the police were found.

This, along with his failure to register his use of several social media usernames with officers, were breaches of his court orders.

Smith, of Peregrine Drive, Sittingbourne, was charged and pleaded guilty at Maidstone Crown Court to making indecent images of a child and six breaches of his SONR.

Last Tuesday (November 12), the 44-year-old was sentenced to a year in prison.

On his release, he will be subject to a further SHPO indefinitely.

Police investigator Thomas Briant said: “Smith was given the opportunity by the court to show he could reform and be trusted not to reoffend whilst living in the community.

“Once we identified he was blatantly accessing indecent images of children on a phone we were actively monitoring, he was immediately arrested.

“This led to the identification that Smith had breached his court orders multiple times.

“He is now serving another prison sentence and will be subject to ongoing checks when he is released.”