TONY SWIFT FROM STANLEY SENTENCED IN COUNTY DURHAM FOR ONLINE CHILD OFFENSES

A man from Stanley, County Durham, has been handed a prison sentence of 26 months after being found guilty of engaging in inappropriate online communications with a minor through popular messaging platforms Snapchat and WhatsApp.

Tony Swift, aged 39, was also discovered to have used various online aliases on an unregistered Xbox console at the time of his arrest. This discovery raised further concerns about his attempts to conceal his identity and evade detection while engaging in potentially harmful online activities.

Back in 2019, Swift was already on the sex offenders' register following previous charges of blackmail and inciting a child into sexual activity. As part of the legal measures imposed on him, he was subject to a sexual harm prevention order. This order strictly prohibited him from using any internet-enabled devices unless he notified the police within three days of doing so. Additionally, it restricted him from interacting with children unless he had obtained prior parental consent, unless such contact was unavoidable.

Despite these clear restrictions, Swift violated the terms of his order in February by communicating with a teenage girl online and by using an unregistered Xbox console. His actions demonstrated a blatant disregard for the court's directives and the safety protocols designed to protect minors.

When authorities arrested him, Swift admitted that he was aware the child he was communicating with was underage. However, he denied engaging in sexual conversations with her. Police investigations revealed that he had multiple aliases and was using unregistered gaming devices, which further complicated efforts to monitor his online activities.

During the court proceedings, prosecutor Kathryn Wetherley explained that police had been alerted to concerns about messages exchanged between Swift and a minor. It was established that Swift was fully aware of the child's age throughout their interactions.

Swift pleaded guilty to two charges of breaching his sexual harm prevention order and one charge of non-compliance. His legal defense argued that the messages exchanged were not inappropriate and pointed out that the Xbox console was purchased from a friend. They also noted that some of the aliases used by Swift belonged to the original owner of the gaming account. Furthermore, the defense highlighted that Swift suffers from epilepsy and a tissue disorder, which have impacted his health during his time in custody. They claimed that he believed the online communications were a form of personal support.

Presiding over the case, Recorder Mark McKone KC sentenced Swift to 26 months in prison and imposed a restraining order that will last for ten years. The court's decision underscored ongoing concerns about Swift's repeated violations of court orders, despite his health issues and the restrictions placed upon him. The case serves as a stark reminder of the importance of enforcing such orders to protect vulnerable minors from potential harm.