DAMIAN CHANDLER FROM DOVERCOURT JAILED FOR REPEATEDLY BREACHING SEX OFFENDER ORDER IN ESSEX

In a series of disturbing incidents, Damien Chandler, a known sex offender from Dovercourt, has been sentenced to prison after multiple violations of a court-imposed order designed to restrict his contact with children. The court proceedings revealed a troubling pattern of breaches over several years, highlighting the ongoing concerns about his compliance and the potential risk he poses to the community.

Chandler’s initial conviction dates back to 2008, when he was found guilty of forcing a six-year-old girl into a sexual act. This serious offense resulted in a suspended prison sentence and a court order that prohibited him from having contact with children unless their parents were fully aware of his criminal history. The order was intended to prevent any further harm and to monitor his interactions with minors.

Despite these restrictions, Chandler, then 27 and residing at the Frandon Hotel in Clacton but previously living on Fronks Road in Dovercourt, repeatedly violated the terms of his banning order. Over a span of four years, he was caught breaching the conditions multiple times, raising alarm among law enforcement and judicial authorities. His breaches included living in the same household as a three-year-old girl, having direct contact with children, and failing to inform police of his living arrangements and activities.

In January of the year in question, authorities arrested Chandler once again after discovering him residing at a property in the Tendring area, in clear violation of the court order. During the hearing at Chelmsford Crown Court, it was revealed that Chandler had been living with a three-year-old girl and had engaged in contact with her, despite the restrictions. He also failed to notify police about his circumstances, spent extended periods with children, and interacted with other minors, all of which contravened the court’s directives.

Recorder John Caudle expressed grave concern over Chandler’s conduct, stating, “Your record is not a good one. There have been repeated breaches of the order made. It is very worrying. You are clearly in denial. You have pleaded guilty, but you still do not see that you have done anything wrong at all.” The judge emphasized the seriousness of the violations and the potential danger posed by Chandler’s continued non-compliance. He sentenced Chandler to six months in prison, with the understanding that he would serve half of that time behind bars and be released on license for an additional three months.

Earlier incidents also cast a shadow over Chandler’s behavior. In August 2009, he was placed under a curfew after breaching his sex offender’s banning order. At that time, Chandler, then 22 and living on Fronks Road in Dovercourt, had befriended a mother of four and spent time with her and her three-year-old daughter. The court heard that Chandler had not disclosed his criminal history or the existence of the banning order when he visited her home on February 24. The woman was present during his interactions with her child and was taken aback when police arrived to arrest him following a tip-off.

For his original offense, Chandler received a nine-month prison sentence, suspended for two years, along with a five-year sexual offences prevention order. His lawyer argued that he was never alone with the girl and did not anticipate children being present during his visit. Nonetheless, the court extended his sex offender’s order until March 2018 and imposed a curfew from 6 pm to midnight, monitored electronically. Additionally, the court added three months to his suspended sentence, underscoring the ongoing concern about his conduct and the importance of strict supervision to prevent further violations.