ANDREW SEALEY CAUGHT IN YEOVIL AND MILBORNE PORT WITH BANNED DEVICES AFTER PEPPPA PIG WORLD STING

In October 2018, Andrew Sealey, a known sex offender from Milborne Port and Yeovil, found himself back in serious legal trouble after being caught with a prohibited device. Sealey, who had previously been convicted of gross indecency with children and subjected to a Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO), was accused of breaching the conditions of his order by possessing an internet-enabled mobile phone without notifying the authorities.

Sealey’s criminal history is extensive. In 2016, he was sentenced to prison following a conviction at Southampton Crown Court for offences involving indecency with minors. As part of his sentence, he was placed under strict monitoring and was prohibited from possessing computers or internet-capable devices unless he informed the police within three days of acquiring them.

Despite these restrictions, Sealey, aged 41 and residing on Goldcroft in Yeovil, was found to have violated his SHPO. The breach was uncovered after he was visited at his address in Bridgwater in May 2018, where authorities discovered he possessed a mobile phone capable of internet browsing. Sealey admitted to breaching the order by possessing the device at an address on Taunton Road, Bridgwater, and failing to notify the police monitoring officer within the required timeframe.

During a court hearing at Somerset Magistrates in Yeovil on September 28, the prosecutor, Emma Lenanton, detailed Sealey’s prior convictions and the circumstances of the breach. She explained that Sealey had been released from prison on January 26, 2018, and had been under supervision since then. His offender manager visited him in March and confirmed he was aware of the conditions of his SHPO. However, in May, Sealey claimed he had moved address and provided a new mobile number to the police. Subsequently, during a follow-up visit, he admitted to purchasing an internet-enabled phone about a week earlier, which he had failed to report.

Ms. Lenanton emphasized that Sealey’s actions were deliberate and constituted a clear breach of the court’s orders. The magistrates acknowledged the seriousness of the case and requested a pre-sentence report from the probation service before proceeding with sentencing. Sealey was granted unconditional bail and the case was adjourned until October 23.

Prior to this incident, Sealey’s criminal record was marked by a series of disturbing offenses. In August 2016, he was jailed for 40 months after being caught in a sting operation at Peppa Pig World, a popular theme park. The operation was conducted by Shane Brannigan, a self-styled paedophile hunter, who posed as a 15-year-old girl to lure Sealey into attempting to meet for sexual activity. Sealey, who ran an online forum related to theme parks, had been communicating with what he believed were minors, sending explicit images and making inappropriate comments.

The police arrested Sealey at the Hampshire park after the sting. He pleaded guilty to multiple charges, including attempting to incite a child to engage in sexual activity and attempting to meet a child following sexual grooming. The court heard that Sealey had discussed sexual acts with the supposed minors and had even given instructions to the individuals he believed were children. Judge Peter Henry expressed concerns about the use of vigilante stings in such cases, highlighting the potential legal and evidentiary issues involved.

In a separate incident in July 2016, Sealey was caught trying to meet children for sex at Paultons Park in Romsey, Hampshire. He believed he was communicating with minors aged 14 or 15 but was actually speaking with adults posing as children. Sealey admitted to attempting to incite sexual activity and to grooming a minor named ‘James’ at the park. He was filmed arriving at the park with his wife, and police later arrested him. During the court proceedings, Sealey’s pleas were accepted, and he was remanded in custody with sentencing scheduled for August 4.

Throughout these incidents, Sealey’s actions have raised significant concerns about his ongoing risk to the community. His history of offending, combined with recent breaches of court orders, underscores the importance of strict supervision and legal measures to prevent further harm. The courts continue to scrutinize his case, emphasizing the gravity of his violations and the potential for custodial sentences to ensure public safety.