STOCKTON SEX OFFENDER IN COURT AFTER SELLING PHONE AND XBOX TO CEX
A convicted sex offender who sold his old phone for £200 found himself back in court after he let staff clear its history.John Nolan was subject to a sexual harm prevention order which prevented him from deleting his search history after he was convicted of downloading child sex abuse images.
The 38-year-old told his supervising officer what he had done but tried to blame his mother for coercing him into getting rid of his mobile.
Teesside Crown Court heard how Nolan was already subject to a community order for a previous breach of the terms of his SHPO imposed in 2015.
Anthony Pettengell, prosecuting, said Nolan told staff in the CEX shop that it was fine to factory reset his Google Pixel and Xbox console.
He said: “He called the officer to tell him that he had his phone to CEX and when he was interviewed, he falsely claimed that his mother and her partner had coerced him into selling the phone.” The court heard how the defendant had previously breached his SHPO and was on a community order for that offence.
Nolan, of Ryde Road, Stockton, pleaded guilty to breaching his SHPO on June 17, 2024.
Paul Abrahams, mitigating, urged the judge to follow the recommendations made in his client’s pre-sentence report.
Recorder Peter Makepeace sentenced Nolan to eight months in custody suspended for 18 months.
He said: “You cannot breach this sexual harm prevention order without going to prison, do you understand that?
I am bound to pass prison sentence as there is no alternative.” Nolan was also ordered to attend 26 accredited thinking skills sessions, 20 rehabilitation activity requirement days and carry out 200 hours of unpaid work.
The judge added: “This is your last chance, breach the order again and you will go prison.
It won’t be any good coming here with any excuses, you will simply go to prison.”
