A registered sex offender has been punished by a judge for deliberate breaches of a court order he was given for grooming and abusing a 15-year-old girl.
Christopher Topliss, now 35, was handed a prison term in 2017 for engaging in sexual activity with the schoolgirl following grooming through online gaming networks. Topliss was said to have used software which enabled him to manipulate other users’ devices.
In addition to imprisonment, he was made subject to a sexual harm prevention order which placed restrictions on his online use to prevent reoffending.
Earlier this year, while Topliss was under the supervision of an offender manager, there was an unannounced visit to his home. He showed a detective constable an iPhone and provided the PIN.
Police learned he had used a device with internet history recording disabled. He had also downloaded and then deleted two different browsers which also meant history of online use had been removed.
This constituted three breaches of the order, which Topliss went on to admit when brought to court. Prosecutor Andrew Evans submitted the breaches were deliberate.
As he was sentenced at Carlisle Crown Court this morning, Judge Michael Fanning told him: “Simply put, we will never know what you have been looking at on that device or with whom you had made contact.”
Defence lawyer Marion Weir said in mitigation that there had been no further issues with police nor suggestion of any other breaches. Topliss, she said, accepted that order compliance was his responsibility, and that any questions should be raised with officers.
After considering all submissions, Judge Fanning concluded a three-year community order would be the best means of safeguarding the public in the medium to long term.
Topliss, of Ennerdale Road, Cleator Moor, must complete a sex offender treatment course and also rehabilitation work with the probation service.
The 10-year order also remains in force.
The judge told Topliss: “The whole purpose of these prohibitions is so that police can monitor you and see whether you are seeking to contact young women — girls — with a view to sexual offending against them.”
