Locations
Belgrave Terrace, South Shields, Tyne And Wear, NE33.
Description
Persistent pervert Colin Lowrie was back in court for breaching a sexual harm prevention order
A judge has put a serial sex offender from South Shields "to the test" by delaying his sentence for six months after he was back in court.
Persistent pervert Colin Lowrie was back in the dock at Newcastle Crown Court on Wednesday after he breached a sexual harm prevention order (SHPO). Prosecutor Annelise Haugstad told the court that the 28-year-old was issued with a SHPO on May 9, 2019, as a result of his criminal past.
On January 30, police attended his home address to carry out a home risk review that helped him to manage as a "high-risk sex offender". He was asked if he had any devices for review and he presented three devices that did not have the capacity to ring or text.
After some discussions, Lowrie then presented a fourth device, a mobile phone, that was concealed in his pocket as he "tried to hide it from police officers".
He told officers he had deleted social media apps including Instagram and Snapchat from his phone when he saw officers outside his address. The court heard how Lowrie's previous convictions include breaching a SHPO and incitement offences.
His most recent conviction for breaching a SHPO involved him talking to a 15-year-old girl online through a chatroom having been told her age on three separate occasions and asking questions like would she date him.
Ms Haugstad said it was a "deliberate breach" of the order and said there were a number of previous breaches.
Vic Laffey, mitigating, said there was "no evidence" to suggest there was a "significant risk" in this particular incident.
Judge Sarah Mallet deferred his sentence for six months until September 15 and told him: "Although your offence qualifies for a custodial sentence, you are in the middle of doing good work that might bring about a long-term good outcome for you stopping committing these sorts of offences you have already committed and so I want to put you to the test to keep out of trouble."
Lowrie, of Belgrave Terrace, South Shields, must comply with a community order, and a SHPO. The judge also warned him not to commit any other offences otherwise she would have "no alternative" but to send him to prison.