Connor Russell 21

Description

A convicted sex offender who admitted breaching a court order limiting his access to the web was allowed to walk from court in part because he was still waiting for a place on a probation rehabilitation scheme.

Connor Russell, 20, was spared an immediate prison sentence last year, when a judge at Oxford Crown Court gave him a 16 month suspended jail sentence for accessing child sex abuse 'filth' online, which he had apparently been looking at since the aged of 11.

As part of that suspended sentence order he was required to complete an intensive sex offender rehabilitation programme, called Horizon.

But by the time police made an unannounced trip to his home this September almost a year after his sentence was imposed he was still on the waiting list for a place on the scheme.

He admitted seven breaches of the sexual harm prevention order imposed last year, including by failing to register a phone and other internet-enabled devices with Thames Valley Police.

On Wednesday, Judge Ian Pringle KC was told that Russell had a place on the Horizon programme starting next January.

And his barrister, Kellie Enever, claimed it would be unjust for the judge to activate the 16 month suspended sentence - given her client had not been given a chance to start the rehabilitative course that might prevent him offending in the future.

The young man, who was remanded into prison by the magistrates in September, also struggled with a number of mental health issues.

Setting out the circumstances surrounding the latest offending, Judge Pringle said: Anyone listening to those facts would think well, I simply send you to prison.

But your counsel has ably submitted to me you havent really had a chance to try to rectify the problems that you have.

What I am going to do is take an unusual course in your case.

"Your Horizon programme is due to start in January. Thats a demanding programme and it may, at your young age, put you off your urge to access this sort of material.

He said he would adjourn sentencing for six months, giving Russell a chance to start the course.

As conditions of the adjournment, Russell was required to comply with the probation service, do the Horizon course and try to tackle his mental health.

[If] I can see that youve made significant progress in engaging on the Horizon Programme and treating your mental health and of course that youve not committed any further offences or breached the sexual harm prevention order that you still have, then I may not send you to prison, he said.

Russell, of Fulwell Close, Banbury, was bailed to return to court on May 19 next year.