Kentish Gazette Canterbury & District
Sex offender who changed name to Game of Thrones star contacted young boy
Ex-student flouted court order by logging on at libraries Exclusive
A convicted sex offender banned from using social media sites changed his name to a Game of Thrones character before chatting online to a young boy.
Former University of Kent student Ryan Butcher’s web use was restricted by a previous conviction for downloading illegal images of children.
But the 29-year-old – now officially registered as Brandon Stark from the hit fantasy drama – flouted the court order by logging on in public libraries.
And when police raided his home they discovered he had searched for vile images of child rape and had accessed more than 120 illegal pictures.
They also found evidence he has been communicating with a young boy in Scotland.
Canterbury Crown Court heard that, under his former name, Stark narrowly avoided prison in 2010 after admitting downloading child sex images.
Then living in Greenhill and studying computer sciences in Canterbury, he was placed under a sexual offences prevention order, which included a condition he could only own one Xbox.
But when officers raided his home in Queens Parade, Margate, they discovered three of the games consoles and evidence he had been communicating with a young boy in Scotland, although the conversations were not of a sexual nature.
Prosecutor Daniel Stevenson told Canterbury Crown Court that Stark had also gone to Margate library to access Facebook and Youtube, in defiance of the court order.
John Barker, defending, said the restrictions on Stark’s internet use had left him feeling isolated.
He said Stark had not breached the orders “for sexual purposes” but had been feeling lonely because of “his personal traits”.
He added: “He is so immature that he even named himself Brandon Stark after some fanciful fictional character.
“He is someone with no friends, who is isolated, and only able to form innocent relationships with children.
“He has never had an adult relationship.”
Judge Simon James gave Stark a three-year extended jail sentence for the 12 offences, which he admitted, including an extra year which has to be served on licence.
It will mean he will have to serve at least 16 months before he can apply for parole.
Judge James told him: “It is perfectly clear that your sexual interest in children is undiminished.
“It is also clear to me that you have gone to some considerable effort to pursue that interest.
“The breaches of the court orders show you have made a considerable effort to obscure your internet activity from the authorities and you have been in contact with at least one child.
“Although I accept there is no direct evidence of you instigating any sexual conversations, the fact you had access to children is still a matter of concern.”
The Game of Thrones character Brandon Stark is played by former Faversham schoolboy Isaac Hempstead-wright, who attended Queen Elizabeth’s grammar school.