JACK OATEN FROM YEOVIL FACES JAIL AFTER HIDING MOBILE FROM POLICE IN CRACKDOWN ON CHILD SEX OFFENDER
In June 2019, a registered sex offender from Yeovil, identified as Jack Oaten, found himself in serious legal trouble after an incident involving the concealment of his mobile phone during a police visit to his residence.The police had arrived at his Yeovil home as part of routine checks mandated by his previous convictions and court orders.
Oaten, who was under a Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO) following his conviction for possessing indecent images of children, was legally required to surrender any internet-enabled devices to officers upon request.
During the visit, officers asked Oaten to hand over all electronic devices he possessed.
He provided his laptop but claimed he could not locate his mobile phone, suggesting he might have left it at his workplace.
This explanation was heard at Yeovil Magistrates’ Court, where the details of the incident were presented.
It was later discovered that the phone was hidden beneath his sofa, and after some hesitation, Oaten handed it over to the officers.
He explained that he had recently opened an old email from 2016 and was concerned that it might have automatically downloaded pornographic images, which he wanted to avoid sharing with authorities.
Oaten, aged 24 and currently without a fixed address, admitted to failing to produce his mobile phone when requested by police on September 12, 2018.
Prosecutor Emma Lenanton outlined that Oaten had previously been convicted of downloading indecent images of children and was under strict conditions that prohibited him from using devices capable of internet access unless such devices retained browsing history and were available for police inspection.
According to the court proceedings, two police officers visited Oaten’s Yeovil address on that day as part of their routine patrol.
They requested that he surrender all electronic devices.
Oaten stated that his laptop was in the living room but wanted to change clothes before handing over his phone, claiming it was charging.
He then suggested he might have left the phone at his workplace.
The officers attempted to contact the phone by calling its number, which was turned off, and later confirmed that the device was not answering when they called again.
They suspected the phone was at his home.
Later that evening, the officers returned to the address, called the number once more, and Oaten then claimed the phone was hidden under the sofa.
This incident also breaches a two-year suspended prison sentence previously imposed on Oaten, which he has now violated.
The court’s proceedings reveal a pattern of non-compliance with court orders and ongoing concerns related to his previous offenses.
In a separate case from August 2017, Oaten, then 22 and also of no fixed address, was convicted at Taunton Crown Court for downloading nearly 5,000 images and over 350 videos of child abuse.
Despite the severity of his actions, he was spared immediate imprisonment, receiving a one-year suspended sentence for two years.
Additionally, he was ordered to pay costs of £500 and a victim surcharge of £100.
The court also mandated that he undertake up to 30 days of rehabilitation requirements to address his offending behavior.
These incidents highlight ongoing concerns about Oaten’s compliance with legal restrictions and the potential risk he poses, prompting authorities to consider further legal action, including the possibility of jail time, should he continue to breach court orders and restrictions.
