A pervert, who spied on mums changing their babies in a supermarket, has been jailed.
Paul Thomas was arrested for voyeurism in October 2020 after watching parents clean up their children for his own sexual gratification. During his interview, it became clear that he had breached a Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO) by staying overnight with a woman and her children, aged under 16, without telling the authorities.
The 41-year-old was made subject of the indefinite order after being convicted of meeting with a child following sexual grooming. The woman had no idea of his offending history, Stoke-on-Trent Live reports.
Prosecutor Harinderpal Dhami said the defendant disclosed he had been in a relationship with a mum-of-three when interviewed in relation to an offence of voyeurism. His partner had no idea of his offending history but she confirmed he had stayed the night when her daughters were present.
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On October 4 he handed his phone to police and he disclosed to his probation officer he had deleted messages received from the Plenty of Fish dating site. Mr Dhami said: "His phone was analysed and there were 6,529 web entries that had been deleted. There was no suggestion that material being sought was indecent images of children.
"He also deleted WhatsApp messages. There were 507 internet search items deleted. It seemed to be indicative that the defendant searched for his own name and details."
Thomas, of no fixed address, pleaded guilty to breaching a SHPO and two charges of failing to comply with notification requirements of the sex offenders' register. Stuart Muldoon, mitigating, said: "He knows he is going to move to a different prison and complete a course that will help with the reduction of his risk. He is sorry for what he has done. The remorse is genuine.
"He did not wish there to be any interference by the authorities in that relationship. That is why he did not disclose it to the authorities."
Jailing Thomas for two years, Judge Sally Hancox said: "You formed a friendship with a woman who had three daughters, two were under 16 at the time. You stayed overnight with that woman at her home, she being in complete ignorance of your previous offending record.
"You failed to comply with the notification requirements in that you failed to tell those who monitor you that your address had changed. There was no wrongdoing on your part towards her or her family.
"You breached the SHPO by deleting your internet usage and search history on your mobile phone. You remain a risk. Thankfully, nothing found to be deleted was a concern. It was still a deliberate breach of your SHPO."
Speaking after the case, Police Constable Sarah Gifford said: “Thomas thought he could lie and deceive police about his activities and cover his tracks. I’m glad he has been handed a custodial sentence and hope it goes to show how we continue to monitor sexual offenders in order to bring them to justice.”
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