CHRISTOPHER WEAR CAUGHT WITH SECRET IPHONE IN WATERLOOVILLE AFTER BREACHING COURT ORDERS

In March 2021, a serious incident unfolded involving Christopher Wear, a known sex offender residing in Waterlooville, who was found to be in possession of an unregistered iPhone during a police visit to his home. This discovery raised significant concerns given Wear’s prior convictions and the restrictions imposed upon him by a court order.

Christopher Wear, aged 34 at the time, had a troubling criminal history that included a conviction in August 2017 for making and possessing indecent images of children. As part of his sentence, he was subjected to a Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO), a legal measure designed to restrict his access to certain devices and online activities to prevent further offenses.

Under the terms of this order, Wear was explicitly prohibited from owning any internet-enabled device unless it was registered with the police and equipped with monitoring software. This was intended to allow authorities to oversee his online activity and prevent access to harmful content. Shortly after the order was issued, an officer from Cumbria Police explained these restrictions to Wear, emphasizing that he could not possess an iPhone because the monitoring software was incompatible with such devices.

However, on February 12, 2020, a routine check was conducted at Wear’s residence in Dalton by his offender manager. During this visit, the officer requested Wear to produce all electronic devices he possessed. Wear initially handed over two laptops, both fitted with the required monitoring software, but after a brief delay, he also produced an iPhone X. The phone was found to have several social media applications installed, including Facebook and WhatsApp, both of which Wear was explicitly banned from using under the terms of his court order.

Wear admitted to using Facebook, although there was no evidence to suggest he had engaged in illegal activity on the device. The court was informed that Wear had been employed as a BMW technician, a role that involved fitting sat nav systems to vehicles and using a mobile phone app to sync the equipment. While he used his phone for work-related purposes, he also utilized social media platforms, which was a breach of his court restrictions.

During the proceedings at Preston Crown Court, Wear pleaded guilty to breaching his Sexual Harm Prevention Order. The presiding judge, Recorder Richard Gioserano, addressed Wear directly, stating, “I think you knew all along that you shouldn’t have had this iPhone. You can have a device as long as it is equipped with the monitoring software. There is no evidence you have used it to view any child pornography or to contact children or enter chat rooms where paedophiles are present. There is nothing of that kind nor is there any evidence of any cleaning software on this iPhone, so I have to give you the benefit of the doubt that while you shouldn’t have it, it wasn’t used for any illegal purposes.”

Despite the lack of evidence of illegal activity, the judge emphasized the potential risks associated with possessing an unmonitored internet-enabled device. As a result, Wear was sentenced to an 18-month community order, which included 20 days of rehabilitation and 120 hours of unpaid work. Additionally, the court confiscated the iPhone, removing it from Wear’s possession.

Further legal issues arose in January 2021, when Wear, now residing on Longwood Avenue in Waterlooville, was again brought before the court. He admitted to breaching his previous court order by using social media platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter, which he was explicitly prohibited from accessing. The breach was linked to an incident in Dalton on February 12, 2020, where he was found to possess an internet-enabled iPhone and had engaged in activities forbidden by his court restrictions.

Wear, who appeared via video link from Waterlooville, pleaded guilty to two charges of breaching the Sexual Harm Prevention Order. He was scheduled for sentencing at Preston Crown Court on February 12, 2021, and was granted bail pending the hearing.

Earlier, in August 2017, Wear had narrowly avoided jail time after admitting to making indecent images of children. He pleaded guilty to four charges at Preston Crown Court, which involved creating images of varying severity (Categories A, B, and C) between September 2009 and November 2016, and possessing such images. Despite the seriousness of these offenses, he received a suspended sentence of seven months, which was to be served over 18 months.

Prior to that, in July 2017, Wear had also pleaded guilty to similar charges at Barrow Crown Court, where he admitted to making and possessing indecent images of children. The images were of different categories, with Category A being the most severe. He faced a sentence that was ultimately suspended, reflecting the court’s consideration of his circumstances.

Throughout these proceedings, Wear’s criminal history and ongoing breaches of court orders highlight the persistent challenges in managing offenders with a history of child exploitation crimes. His case underscores the importance of strict monitoring and enforcement of court restrictions to prevent further offenses and protect vulnerable individuals from harm.