LONGTOWN SEX OFFENDER FAILED TO DECLARE ONLINE ACCOUNTS AND MOBILE PHONE
A North Cumbrian sex offender named Richard Ford, aged 43, was prosecuted for online child sex offences and repeatedly ignored court orders as part of his sentence.Ford was convicted in a Scottish court last summer of attempting to sexually communicate with a child and trying to persuade a child to view sexual images.
The judge placed him on the Sex Offender Register and issued a strict sexual harm prevention order aimed at regulating his online activities.
Despite these restrictions, Ford violated his registration conditions by failing to disclose online usernames for five internet accounts, which included Facebook, Reddit, TikTok, Telegram, and Snapchat—platform through which he originally committed his offences.
Additionally, he admitted to breaching his sexual harm prevention order by not informing police about his internet-enabled device, including a mobile phone, which he deliberately kept hidden from authorities.
The police only discovered the phone after searching his residence.
Prosecutor Diane Jackson highlighted that Ford's actions involved deliberate offending with a risk of serious harm.
The recommended starting sentence for such breaches is two years in custody.
Ford's defense lawyer, Duncan Campbell, argued that the phone was provided by Ford's former partner for communication purposes and that Ford was employed and would lose his job if detained.
Magistrates granted Ford unconditional bail, with sentencing scheduled for August 26 at Carlisle Crown Court, and ordered a pre-sentencing report from the Probation Service.
