WAYNE SHELTON FROM CHESTERTON SENTENCED AFTER BREACHING COURT ORDERS IN NEWCASTLE

In September 2017, Wayne Shelton, a 21-year-old resident of Victoria Street in Chesterton, found himself back in legal trouble after breaching a court-imposed order designed to protect minors from sexual harm. Shelton had previously been convicted in 2015 of an offence involving a 12-year-old girl, which resulted in the imposition of a Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO). Despite this, Shelton continued to engage in inappropriate communications with underage girls, leading to serious legal consequences.

According to court proceedings, Shelton was found to have sent flirtatious messages to a 15-year-old girl via social media platforms. His actions included posing as his ex-girlfriend in order to communicate with a girl under the age of 16, which was a direct violation of his court order. The situation escalated when Shelton met the 15-year-old girl in Newcastle, further breaching the restrictions placed upon him.

Authorities acted swiftly after discovering Shelton’s violations. Police conducted a search of his residence in Chesterton and recovered multiple mobile phones. These devices contained numerous messages exchanged with young girls, some of whom were under 16. Prosecutor Peter McCartney explained that Shelton claimed he had purchased a new mobile phone just four weeks prior because his previous device was being repaired. However, analysis of the new phone revealed troubling evidence.

On one of the phones, a Galaxy model, Shelton was found to have been communicating with a girl under 16. The messages included flirtatious remarks such as “how are you gorgeous?” and indicated that the two had met in person. Further investigation showed that Shelton had been posing as his ex-girlfriend to facilitate these conversations, a clear breach of his legal obligations.

During the hearing at Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court, Judge Jinder Singh Boora addressed Shelton directly, stating that he had “no option” but to sentence him to prison. The judge emphasized that Shelton, now 21, should have known better, especially given the nature of the court orders designed to protect vulnerable minors. He condemned Shelton’s actions, noting that his communication with underage girls was a violation of the very laws meant to shield them from harm.

As a result, Shelton was sentenced to nine months in prison after admitting to two counts of failing to comply with the notification requirements of the Sex Offenders’ Register and three breaches of his SHPO. The case highlights the ongoing challenges law enforcement faces in monitoring and enforcing restrictions on convicted offenders, particularly those who continue to breach these legal protections in the community.