Man, 39, sent to prison for breach of sexual harm prevention order

A 39-year-old man has been sent to prison for nine months after he was found in possession of a mobile phone.

As part of his sexual harm prevention order, Sam Stephenson, 39, previously of Silverstone, Northampton, was required to inform police if he got a new device capable of accessing the internet.

However, on July 12, 2022, officers visited Stephenson and learnt that he had been in possession of a phone but had neglected to tell officers about it. He had then disposed of the phone, again without informing the police.

It is vital that he should have informed the police of the use and possession of his phone in order for his risk to be managed effectively.

He was arrested and subsequently charged with the breach.

PC James Brookes from Northamptonshire Police’s MOSOVO Team, said: “Sexual harm prevention orders are put in place for a reason – they protect the public from sex offenders and our team monitors them very closely to ensure there are no breaches.

“When there is a breach however, we do not give second chances – a person is immediately arrested and dealt with using the full force of the law.

“I hope cases like these send a message to other sex offenders that if you are thinking of breaching your orders we will uncover your incompliance and it won’t be long before you are back in prison.”