Locations
Rugby Street, Hartlepool, TS25
Description
A sex offender who once tried to meet a young girl for sexual activity has been hauled back before the courts for breaching an order.
David Walls, 43, was handed a 28-month prison sentence at Teesside Crown Court on Tuesday after pleading guilty to three counts of breaching a Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO).
Prosecutor Jenny Haigh told the court that Walls is a registered sex offender and on March 15, 2017, he was convicted after grooming a girl and attempting to meet her. She said the pair chatted over the internet and he offered her cigarettes and suggested meeting up for sexual activity.
However, Ms Haigh said the girl did not attend the meeting as she knew "it was wrong". Following the conviction, the defendant was made to comply with notification requirements but breached these in July.
The court heard police obtained a warrant and attended his home address however, it was clear he had not been living at the home. Officers then attended his brother's property and apprehended Walls after he tried to flee.
Ms Haigh said his phone was then searched. She added: "It was quite clear the defendant had been using the laptop and iPad at his brother's home. It was clear he had been staying there."
The prosecutor said the search revealed that he had been using Snapchat, Instagram and Facebook under alias names. She said the defendant has six convictions for 16 offences and has previously breached the order.
In mitigation, however, the court heard Walls admitted the offences and "with hindsight knows he needs to change his behaviour".
Walls of Rugby Street, Hartlepool was handed a 28-month prison sentence.