Locations
The Elizabeth House, The Avenue, Southampton SO17 1XP
Description
A “FOOLISH” Southampton sex offender lied to police about his real address, because he was afraid of losing his home and job.
Andrew Portelli was given a suspended sentence just last month after attempting to meet what he thought was a 14-year-old girl at a supermarket car-park in Southampton.
The 49-year-old was told to register his address with police, as part of the requirements of his sexual harm prevention order.
But he gave police the wrong address, because he was living and working as a night porter at The Elizabeth House Hotel, on The Avenue, in Southampton.
Portelli believed he would lose both if his job and accommodation if his employers found out.
But police later informed them of Portelli’s sentencing, which was reported in the Daily Echo, and he was sacked.
Appearing at Southampton Crown Court, Portelli was given a six week prison sentence by Judge Gary Burrell QC, who described his actions as “astonishingly stupid”.
The court heard how Portelli had breached the order just days after his sentencing, on February 8 this year.
During that sentencing, it was revealed how Portelli had sent inappropriate messages to a member of a paedophile hunter group, posing online as a 14-year-old girl.
He sent messages inviting the girl to shower with him before arranging a meeting at an Aldi car park in Portswood, where he was confronted by the paedophile hunters.
He was given a six-month suspended sentence after admitting to engaging in sexual communications with a child.
Just days later, he was found to have lied about his address.
In mitigation, Gemma White said Portelli had been “foolish”.
She said: “He was concerned for his employment at the hotel if he made them aware of these matters and he would lose that accommodation, which was source of stability for him.”
Judge Gary Burrell QC also described Portelli’s actions as “astonishingly stupid”.
He said: “You must have realised that not giving police the right information would have caused a breach of your order.”
Portelli, who had been in custody for a month since his arrest, was jailed for six weeks as punishment, meaning he was eligible for immediate release.
He was also ordered to complete an extra 50 hours of unpaid work, which will be added to his previous punishment of 100 hours.
His six month suspended sentence remains in place.