NORTH EAST SEX OFFENDER HANDED HIMSELF IN TO POLICE AS HE 'FELT THE ONLY SAFE PLACE WAS PRISON'
A sex offender breached a court order prior to voluntarily turning himself into the police, believing that custody would provide him with the safest environment.David Standley violated a sexual harm prevention order on two occasions before surrendering to authorities.
It was reported to the court that the 32-year-old experienced worsening mental health issues at the time of the breaches.
On Tuesday, Standley, of Westbourne Street, Stockton, appeared at Teesside Crown Court via video link from HMP Holme House for sentencing on two counts of breaching a sexual harm prevention order and possession of cannabis.
In September 2021, Standley, then residing in Redcar, was arrested after attempting to communicate with what he thought was a 14-year-old girl.
In fact, he was speaking to a 50-year-old undercover decoy working for Angels of Innocence.
He sent an explicit image of himself and suggested she take a train to meet him for sex in the woods.
He received a prison sentence of three years and two months after admitting to trying to persuade a minor into sexual activity.
He was also subjected to a sexual harm prevention order.
However, in March of this year, Standley broke the order by resetting his mobile phone to factory settings and then disposing of it.
Judge Jonathan Carroll commented: "This is an exceptionally unusual case.
You were going through a personal crisis and, for reasons known only to you, violated two orders intended to prevent sexual harm." He also swiftly reported his actions to the police, as he believed incarceration was the safest option for him.
He recognized a decline in his mental health and the risk of committing violent offenses, according to Teesside Live.
Judge Carroll sentenced Standley to six months in prison, suspended for two years, giving him the opportunity to address his "underlying issues." Additionally, he is required to complete 90 days of rehabilitation activities and participate in a 26-day program.
