NORWICH MAN ADMITS BREACHING SEXUAL HARM PREVENTION ORDER
A Norwich man failed to declare he had a laptop and smartphone to police in a breach of his sexual harm prevention order, a court has heard.Benjamin Place, 23, admitted breaching his sexual harm prevention order (SHPO) and failed to comply with the notification requirements of the sex offenders register.
Appearing at Great Yarmouth Magistrates' Court, he pleaded guilty to two SHPO breaches in Norwich between February 7 and March 5 2025, and also failing to comply with requirements of the sex offenders register on February 17 2025.
The court heard how Place - of Thorpe Road in Norwich - was previously convicted for attempting to contact an under 18, as well as possessing a prohibited image of a child and extreme pornographic images.
He was placed on the sex offenders register and was under instruction to register any internet enabled laptop with police and inform the police if he had a smartphone.
He also had to register his new address within three days of moving, which he failed to do.
Police found an unregistered laptop at his home address.
The defendant initially denied having it and said he just uses the Playstation.
Police attended Place in his new address and found the unregistered laptop.
He expressed remorse, stating it has been a reality check and that he has been stupid.
His mitigation said: "He said this has been a reality check and that he has been stupid.
He doesn't want to see himself as a monster.
He understands the seriousness of this.
These breaches were ignorant, naive and very very stupid." He will appear for sentencing at Norwich Magistrates' Court at 10am on June 4 once a pre-sentence report has been made.
He has been granted unconditional bail.
