LEE ROWETT SCUNTHORPE SEX OFFENDER SENTENCED TO FIVE YEARS FOR CHILD PORNOGRAPHY AND BREACHES

In June 2019, Lee Rowett, a known sex offender from Scunthorpe, was sentenced to a five-year prison term after being found guilty of possessing and creating indecent images of children, as well as breaching court orders designed to restrict his activities. The case highlighted the ongoing risks posed by individuals with a history of sexual offenses and the challenges authorities face in monitoring and controlling such offenders.

According to court proceedings, Rowett, aged 36 at the time, had been under a sexual harm prevention order since August 2013, which was intended to limit his access to certain technology and prevent further offenses. Despite this, police investigations revealed that he had violated these restrictions by possessing a mobile phone without informing authorities, a breach that led to further scrutiny.

The police responded to information received about Rowett’s activities at his residence on Buckingham Street North in Scunthorpe. During the search, officers discovered a mobile device in his possession, which he was not authorized to have without prior notification. A detailed examination of the phone uncovered a disturbing collection of 123 indecent images of children, including 11 classified as the most serious category, indicating the severity of the material he had accessed and stored. Rowett admitted to possessing and creating these images, acknowledging his relapse into previous criminal behavior.

His criminal record was extensive, including prior convictions for possessing and producing indecent images of children, breaching previous court orders, and engaging in sexual activity with a minor. His history underscored the persistent danger he posed to the community. The court heard that Rowett had previously served time in prison, including a three-year sentence for similar offenses, demonstrating a pattern of offending behavior.

During the sentencing hearing at Grimsby Crown Court, prosecutor Keith Allen emphasized the seriousness of Rowett’s actions and the risk he continued to present. The defense, represented by Kylie Peach, acknowledged Rowett’s guilty pleas and his cooperation with authorities. However, the presiding judge, Recorder Bryan Cox QC, expressed concern over Rowett’s repeated breaches and his inability to respond to non-custodial measures. The judge stated, “You have a long history of committing offenses of a similar nature and you have demonstrated that you will not respond to non-custodial options and court orders. You have committed numerous breaches of sexual harm prevention orders in the past.”

Given the circumstances, the court sentenced Rowett to five years in prison, with an extended license period of three years upon release. Additionally, he was subjected to an indefinite sexual harm prevention order to restrict his future activities and protect the public from potential harm. The case served as a stark reminder of the ongoing threat posed by individuals with a history of sexual offenses, especially those who continue to breach court-imposed restrictions.

In a related case from August 2013, Rowett, then aged 30 and residing in Mill Lane, Kirton in Lindsey, was sentenced to three years after admitting to sexually touching a girl. He also pleaded guilty to ten counts of making indecent images of children, one count of possessing such images, and three counts of breaching a sexual offences prevention order. Prosecutor Simon Kealey explained that Rowett had previously been given a three-year community order and a ten-year sexual offences prevention order in April 2011. However, investigations by American authorities, working to combat child exploitation, uncovered that Rowett had transferred a significant number of indecent images—totaling 2,066—onto a social networking site account linked to him, most of which had been deleted but were still recoverable. Among these images, 16 depicted a girl who had been sexually assaulted by Rowett.

Defense attorney Craig Lowe noted that Rowett had shown remorse early in the investigation and had been transparent with authorities. As part of his sentence, Rowett was ordered to register as a sex offender for life and received an additional eight months in prison for breaching his original community order. The case underscored the importance of vigilant monitoring and the ongoing efforts of law enforcement agencies to protect children from sexual exploitation and abuse.