Pervert who failed to reveal internet devices is jailed

JON MACPHERSON

ACONVICTED sex offender who failed to tell police that he had two internet-capable

Nintendo DS games consoles has been jailed for 12 months.

Stephen Lewis Hutchinson, formerly of Bacup, was given a sexual harm prevention order (SHPO) in 2017 after being caught with extreme pornography involving animals.

The SHPO prevented the 45-year-old from using any internet-capable device unless it had the capacity to display and retain the internet history and had to be made available on request for inspection by police.

Police attended Hutchinson’s home on Whittaker Street, Blackburn, on February 10 this year in relation to a ‘ domestic incident’ involving his partner and his son’s girlfriend.

Preston Crown Court heard one of the officers recognised the defendant as a registered sex offender and asked to check is devices.

Prosecutor Lisa Worsley said Hutchinson handed over a Samsung mobile phone which was checked and didn’t breach the SHPO.

When Hutchinson was asked about any other internet-capable devices he said ‘no’ but a search of his bedroom revealed another Samsung phone and two Nintendo DS consoles.

The defendant said he used the phone ‘as an alarm clock’ and a search of the device found adult pornography in the search history.

When asked again if he

●● Stephen Lewis Hutchinson had any other devices he initially said no, but after a few seconds said: “All right. There’s another downstairs in a purple box in the living room”.

In his police interview, Hutchinson said the Samsung mobile phone was used by himself and his partner as an alarm clock but it could be used for wi-fi and had a sim card inside.

He said the two Nintendo DS consoles had been checked previously but ‘acknowledged he should have disclosed them’.

Hutchinson pleaded guilty to four counts of breaching the SHPO.

The court heard that he has 37 convictions for 127 offences, including attempted rape and indecent assault in 2015, possessing extreme pornography in 2017 and a previous breach of the SHPO in 2018 resulting an eight month jail sentence.

His defence barrister Ms Hussain said when police were called to his home it was due to an incident involving his partner and son’s girlfriend and ‘didn’t involve him’.

She said: “He instructs me that he did become annoyed which is why he didn’t originally present the four items which has led to the breach of the SHPO.

“He would like to stress is it was due to that annoyance rather than any intention at all of trying to hide any wrongdoing.

“The devices will be examined. He is instructing they will all come back clean.

“He made full admissions and pleaded guilty at the first opportunity.”

Judge Andrew Jefferies said:. “Your sentences are going to get longer and longer if you continue to breach.”

Hutchinson was jailed for 12 months and ordered to sign the sign the sex offenders register for 10 years.

The court heard that the SHPO remains in effect until 2027.