SWINDON SEX OFFENDER JAILED FOR BREACHING COURT ORDERS AND FOLLOWING WOMEN
A sex offender named Stephen Charles, aged 49, has been sentenced to 18 months in jail for repeatedly breaching a court order by following and bothering women despite being prohibited from doing so.Charles was previously convicted of having sex with a minor, and in 1992, he received a suspended sentence for unlawful sexual intercourse with a girl under 16 when living in Reading.
In 2004, he was jailed for five months for harassment after following pupils at Kingsdown School in Stratton.
Charles was subject to a Sexual Offences Prevention Order (SOPO) following his previous convictions, which prohibited him from approaching or following unaccompanied women, particularly when riding a bike.
Despite this, he breached the order in October last year by trailing a 17-year-old hairdresser, following her to and from work, smiling at her, and attempting to engage her in conversation about washing her car.
Earlier this year, he also followed another woman working in a shop, smiling at her and making disturbing remarks about sex and violence.
During his arrest, he was found with a kitchen knife, claiming it was for his protection.
Charles admitted to two breaches of the SOPO and possessing a bladed article.
His defence argued that while his actions were unnerving, there was never any physical contact.
The judge, Recorder Richard Smith QC, emphasized that Charles had demonstrated an inability to follow court orders, causing significant distress to victims, and had repeatedly breached the order, which contributed to his 18-month jail sentence.
