A sex offender has been sentenced for flouting a court order — by using his girlfriend’s phone to play an online game and browse Amazon during a COVID lockdown.
Kevin Scott, 43, was originally punished in 2011 for almost two dozen offences which involved making indecent photographs of children.
In addition to a suspended prison sentence, Scott was issued with a sexual offences prevention order in January of that year which imposed tough restrictions on his online use indefinitely.
But more than a decade after Scott was given the order, he committed two breaches: first by accessing an iPhone — belonging to his wife — which was not fitted with the necessary police-approved monitoring software; and by obstructing a police officer by claiming he hadn’t used the phone.
These came to light as an offender manager visited Scott’s home last June when the phone was found. He denied using that device.
But prosecutor Gerard Rogerson told Carlisle Crown Court of a “rather telling piece of evidence” being found. This was a text message which revealed: “Kev is on my phone playing a game”.
Scott accepted in interview he had used the phone to play a military strategy game and also to access the Amazon website, and went on to admit flouting the order.
It was not suggested Scott, of Charles Close, Workington, had used the internet for any illegal purposes. His lawyer, Sean Harkin, spoke of a long period of compliance since 2011 with no other offences committed.
“It is an offence committed in lockdown when they’re was to much to do other than go on the internet at that time,” said Mr Harkin. “It is an offence born out of complacency.”
Recorder Andrew Nuttall imposed a 12-month community order comprising a three-month night time curfew and rehabilitation requirement. He told Scott: “This is the first breach — let it be the last.”
