ALEXANDER RICHARDSON BOURNMOOR SEX OFFENDER CAUGHT WITH ERASER SOFTWARE IN CHESTER-LE-STREET
| Red Rose Database
Bournmoor Child Sexual Abuser
In July 2020, a serious incident involving Alexander Richardson, a known sex offender from Bournmoor near Chester-le-Street, unfolded that highlighted ongoing concerns about his compliance with legal restrictions and the potential concealment of illicit activities.
Richardson, aged 33, had previously been convicted in March of the previous year for downloading over 10,000 indecent images of children. His conviction resulted in a two-year community order, which included strict conditions aimed at preventing further offenses. Among these conditions was the requirement that he disclose details of any device capable of accessing the internet, a measure designed to monitor and prevent the use of technology for illegal purposes.
However, during an unannounced visit to his residence on June 8, conducted by the police public protection unit, authorities uncovered troubling evidence. Richardson initially claimed that he only possessed mobile phones, but when officers indicated that they would search his router for additional devices, he admitted to owning a second-hand laptop. He explained that he had purchased the laptop sometime after the last monitoring visit, either just before or shortly after Christmas, but claimed to have forgotten about it during subsequent visits.
Further investigation revealed that Richardson had used 'eraser' software on his computer, a tool capable of wiping the history of internet activity and other data. It was discovered that he had accessed the software 13 times in the month leading up to the visit, including on the morning of the police inspection. This raised suspicions that he was attempting to conceal potentially incriminating activity. Additionally, Richardson admitted to using the alias ‘Tears of Puppies’ to access a poker gambling website, an action that was explicitly prohibited under the terms of his Sexual Harm Prevention Order.
Richardson, who resides in Castlefields, Bournmoor, near Chester-le-Street, faced charges of breaching four specific terms of his SHPO. During the court proceedings, Lewis Kerr, representing the defendant, argued that recent examinations of the laptop had not revealed any evidence of illegal internet activity. Nonetheless, Judge Ray Singh expressed a different view, stating that there was a “clear and justifiable inference” that Richardson had used the software to hide similar activities for which he was convicted last year. The judge questioned the purpose of having such software on his computer if not for concealment.
In his sentencing, Judge Singh emphasized the seriousness of the breaches, describing them as “deliberate and significant.” As a result, Richardson was sentenced to 16 months in prison. The judge also reaffirmed that Richardson would remain subject to both the sex offender registration requirements and the terms of the SHPO for the next ten years, underscoring the ongoing risk and the importance of strict monitoring.
In addition to the prison sentence, further investigations were ordered into the contents of the seized devices, including a mobile phone, to determine if any additional illegal activity had been attempted or concealed. Richardson has been in custody since his arrest last month, and the case continues to be closely monitored by authorities, reflecting the ongoing efforts to prevent recidivism and protect the community from potential harm.
Richardson, aged 33, had previously been convicted in March of the previous year for downloading over 10,000 indecent images of children. His conviction resulted in a two-year community order, which included strict conditions aimed at preventing further offenses. Among these conditions was the requirement that he disclose details of any device capable of accessing the internet, a measure designed to monitor and prevent the use of technology for illegal purposes.
However, during an unannounced visit to his residence on June 8, conducted by the police public protection unit, authorities uncovered troubling evidence. Richardson initially claimed that he only possessed mobile phones, but when officers indicated that they would search his router for additional devices, he admitted to owning a second-hand laptop. He explained that he had purchased the laptop sometime after the last monitoring visit, either just before or shortly after Christmas, but claimed to have forgotten about it during subsequent visits.
Further investigation revealed that Richardson had used 'eraser' software on his computer, a tool capable of wiping the history of internet activity and other data. It was discovered that he had accessed the software 13 times in the month leading up to the visit, including on the morning of the police inspection. This raised suspicions that he was attempting to conceal potentially incriminating activity. Additionally, Richardson admitted to using the alias ‘Tears of Puppies’ to access a poker gambling website, an action that was explicitly prohibited under the terms of his Sexual Harm Prevention Order.
Richardson, who resides in Castlefields, Bournmoor, near Chester-le-Street, faced charges of breaching four specific terms of his SHPO. During the court proceedings, Lewis Kerr, representing the defendant, argued that recent examinations of the laptop had not revealed any evidence of illegal internet activity. Nonetheless, Judge Ray Singh expressed a different view, stating that there was a “clear and justifiable inference” that Richardson had used the software to hide similar activities for which he was convicted last year. The judge questioned the purpose of having such software on his computer if not for concealment.
In his sentencing, Judge Singh emphasized the seriousness of the breaches, describing them as “deliberate and significant.” As a result, Richardson was sentenced to 16 months in prison. The judge also reaffirmed that Richardson would remain subject to both the sex offender registration requirements and the terms of the SHPO for the next ten years, underscoring the ongoing risk and the importance of strict monitoring.
In addition to the prison sentence, further investigations were ordered into the contents of the seized devices, including a mobile phone, to determine if any additional illegal activity had been attempted or concealed. Richardson has been in custody since his arrest last month, and the case continues to be closely monitored by authorities, reflecting the ongoing efforts to prevent recidivism and protect the community from potential harm.