Locations
Abingdon Road, Oxford, OX2
Description
An Oxford judge has urged a man jailed for breaching court orders to "get on with his life."
Benjaman Johnson, 31, of Abingdon Road, Oxford, was sentenced on February 17 at Oxford Crown Court after pleading guilty to failing to comply with sex offenders' register requirements and breaching his sexual harm prevention order.
The court heard Johnson was released from prison on January 14 this year. Five days later, on January 19, his offender manager discovered a Samsung phone used in incognito mode—a breach of the order—and an unreported bank card, leading to his arrest.
Johnson admitted the breaches in a police interview. He has two prior convictions for five offenses, including sexual communication with a child and attempting to meet a girl under 16, plus a previous breach of his sexual harm prevention order.
Prosecutor Alexandra Bushell said: "This was a very serious breach, it was deliberate."
Defense counsel Gareth James noted: "He was using incognito mode. That does pose a serious risk as police didn't know what he was doing with the phone." He added concerns about Johnson's mental health, accepting "there is little alternative open to the court" and that "he does not seem to be suitable for provisions in the community."
Judge Michael Gledhill KC said: "You've had difficulties in your childhood and early adult life. When you appeared at Swindon Crown Court, you pleaded guilty to two very serious offences. They were trying to communicate with a child for sexual purposes and attempting to meet a child. That judge gave you a chance, but it wasn't long before you breached that chance."
The judge continued: "You were released from prison on January 14 this year and you were well aware of the sexual harm prevention order. Five days later your offender manager arrived and discovered you were using incognito mode. In these circumstances, you were arrested. This was a serious breach and it was deliberate. We don't know what you were accessing in incognito mode."
Johnson was jailed for 12 months, with his phone ordered deprived.
Judge Gledhill added: "You're now 31, you can't go on like this. You need to get on with your life and not come back before the courts."