Record details
A man has been jailed for more than five years after attempting to engage in sexual communication with a child online and failing to comply with sex offender notification requirements.
Anthony Michael Hancock (pictured below), aged 36, of Shelley Road in Middlesbrough, is a Registered Sex Offender who was arrested in June 2026, when it was alleged that he had contacted a child online and attempted to cause/incite a girl aged 13 to 15 to engage in sexual activity.
It was also found that he had failed to comply with sex offender notification requirements.
Hancock had been remanded in prison since his arrest in June.
He appeared at Teesside Crown Court on Tuesday 1st September, where he was given a five-year and four-month sentence, and an indefinite Sexual Harm Prevention Order.
Detective Constable David Philipson, from Cleveland Police’s Paedophile Online Investigation Team (POLIT), said:
“Hancock is a repeat offender whose first offence occurred more than a decade ago. I welcome the sentence imposed by the courts, which demonstrates the level of harm that Hancock poses, and I am pleased that he is now behind bars where he cannot be a further risk.
“Cleveland POLIT are committed to robust and swift action against individuals like Hancock who offend against children online. We will continue to pursue individuals who carry out harm to children online and are determined to make Cleveland a safer place.”
