STEVEN CANNING FROM CHANDLER'S FORD JAILED FOR INTERNET SEX OFFENSES AND BREACH OF SEX OFFENDER CONDITIONS

In July 2020, Steven Canning, a registered sex offender residing in Chandler's Ford, was found to have secretly used his Xbox gaming console to search for material involving teenage pornography. This discovery came during a police visit to his home, which was conducted without prior notice. Canning, aged 37 and living on Grayson Court, had previously been convicted of possessing indecent images of children and extreme pornography, leading to the imposition of a strict decade-long sexual harm prevention order (SHPO) to monitor his activities and restrict his access to certain devices.

On June 20 of that year, law enforcement officers arrived at Canning’s residence and observed a white phone charger. Canning claimed that the charger belonged to his partner. During their inspection of the kitchen area, officers also noticed a booklet with the EE mobile phone logo, which they used to inquire about any unregistered devices Canning might possess. Despite his denial of owning any such devices, officers called the number listed in the booklet, which resulted in a phone ringing from inside a cupboard in the house.

As part of his legal obligations under the SHPO, Canning was required to disclose all devices capable of internet access to the police and to present them upon request. However, during the investigation, he failed to do so. The officers’ discovery of the phone and subsequent examination revealed that Canning had been using his Xbox console to search for explicit material involving teenagers, despite his earlier claims that the device was not connected to the internet. Further analysis confirmed that the console had indeed been used to access such prohibited content.

These breaches of his legal restrictions and the discovery of illegal searches led to serious charges. Canning appeared before Southampton Crown Court on a Monday, where he faced allegations of breaching his SHPO as well as violating a suspended 12-month prison sentence, which had been in place for 24 months. He pleaded guilty to all charges on June 22 of that year.

During a separate unannounced home visit on November 27 of the previous year, officers questioned Canning about his ownership of internet-enabled devices. Although he initially admitted to owning an Xbox, he falsely claimed that it was not connected to the internet. This statement was contradicted by the officers’ findings, which confirmed that the console was indeed connected and had been used to search for teenage pornography.

In sentencing, Judge Christopher Parker QC expressed concern over Canning’s need for help, stating, “You need help. You will I hope get help in custody.” As a result, Canning was sentenced to 27 months in prison for his breaches and illegal activities related to his status as a sex offender.