THOMAS HOWARTH FROM ALLENTON AND HEANOR JAILED FOR CHILD SEX OFFENCES AND BREACHES IN DERBY

In a series of disturbing incidents, Thomas Howarth, a resident of Allenton and Heanor, has been convicted and sentenced for serious breaches of his previous child sex offenses and related orders in Derby. The court heard how Howarth, aged 26, who had a troubling history of sexual offenses involving minors, continued to flout restrictions designed to prevent him from accessing the internet and devices capable of facilitating contact with children.

According to court records, Howarth was initially convicted in 2016 for causing or inciting sexual activity with a 13-year-old girl and was subsequently placed on the sex offenders register for life. As part of his sentence, he was also subject to a sexual harm prevention order, which explicitly prohibited him from possessing any device capable of connecting to the internet without prior police approval. Despite these strict conditions, Howarth was found to have secretly acquired a mobile phone, a Playstation 4 gaming console, and a laptop, all capable of internet access, after his release from prison.

The breach was uncovered during a police investigation on March 15, 2022, when Howarth attended a polygraph test, commonly known as a lie detector test, to assess his honesty regarding his use of internet-enabled devices. The results indicated that he was not truthful, prompting immediate police action. A subsequent search of his residence on Mortimer Street revealed the presence of a Playstation 4, a Dell laptop, and a USB stick. His mobile phone had been used to access Snapchat, a social media platform known for its ephemeral messaging, which complicates evidence collection since messages are not retained.

During the court proceedings, Howarth admitted that he had no valid excuses for not declaring these devices, acknowledging his breach of the court order. In a video-link from HMP Nottingham, he explained that he had studied health and social care and public services at college, and ironically, he had been contemplating a career in the prison service. He also stated that after completing college, he worked for EE at Pride Park and more recently for Boots, before his latest incarceration.

Judge Jonathan Bennett addressed Howarth directly, questioning his motives: “Why on earth did you do this, that’s what I don’t understand?” To which Howarth responded, expressing remorse and a desire to change: “That is why I would like to carry on with the group work while I’m in custody. I don’t want to keep coming back to jail, that’s not a life I want to live.”

Despite his pleas, the judge sentenced Howarth to 23 months in prison, emphasizing the gravity of his actions. “It is serious, it is a flagrant breach of an order and it is particularly serious because you have previous convictions for breaching the same order,” Judge Bennett stated. This case underscores the ongoing challenges authorities face in monitoring and controlling individuals with a history of sexual offenses against minors, especially when they attempt to circumvent restrictions.

In a related case from June 2020, Howarth was again convicted for engaging in online communication with a 14-year-old girl, during which he expressed disturbing fantasies about rape and referred to himself as “daddy,” while calling the girl “daddy’s little slut.” He also told her he wished she was just 10 years old. The victim was persuaded to meet him, but the meeting was prevented when her mother refused to allow her to travel from the West Midlands to Derbyshire. Police investigations revealed that Howarth had secretly purchased a mobile phone, which he was supposed to have declared under the terms of his previous sexual harm prevention order.

Recorder Julie Warburton sentenced Howarth to an additional two years in prison for these offenses, highlighting the severity of his predatory behavior. She stated, “Part of the communication between you had references to you wishing she had been 10 years old. You mentioned wanting to rape her on numerous occasions, carried out various sex acts and sent her a naked image of yourself. I have no doubt you wanted to have sexual contact with this young female.”

Prosecutor Lucky Thandi recounted how police and probation officers visited Howarth’s residence in Heanor on March 8, 2019, and discovered that he had been exchanging messages with a girl he claimed was 16, but analysis confirmed she was only 14. Further examination of his devices revealed explicit messages and a naked photo of Howarth himself. Despite denying any sexual gratification from these exchanges during police interviews, Howarth later pleaded guilty to charges of sexual communication with a child and breaching his sexual harm prevention order, reflecting a pattern of continued offending despite legal restrictions.