Man breached sexual harm order by downloading TikTok
James Ward, 27, was described as having acted in a 'manipulative way' by breaching the terms of the court order.
In 2017, when Ward was 19, he was made the subject of a Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO), put in place to protect children.
Ward, of Dol Glas, Brecon, was charged with 12 breaches of that order earlier this year.
He created social media accounts with apps such as Tinder, Match.com, Snapchat, Tiktok and YouTube using different names and then deleted his profiles – both of which he was barred from doing by the SHPO – between September 2, 2022, and August 8, 2023.
Ward previously pleaded guilty to four of the charges, entering not guilty pleas to eight others.
Prosecutor Alycia Carpanini said previously that the prosecution was satisfied with the defendant's guilty pleas and offered no evidence in relation to the other eight charges.
At his sentencing hearing at Merthyr Tydfil Crown Court on Thursday, July 17, Ms Carpanini said Ward tried to delete his internet history when police called at his address.
She said he also initially refuted an interest in children, before ultimately being honest with a probation officer in the process of conducting a pre-sentence report. She asked for £1,000 in costs.
Kathryn Lane, representing Ward, described her client as 'someone who needs help'.
'His brother has recently moved to a care home in Merthyr Tydfil, he suffers with psychosis and autism, he is very unwell," she said.
'The defendant assists his mother in getting back and forth to that care home. It would be very difficult for her to visit him without the assistance of Mr Ward.
'There has also been a lengthy delay in bringing this to court, which was not his fault. He has been out of trouble until the present day, so he has demonstrated he can comply.'
Judge Shomon Khan told Ward the SHPO had been put in place eight years ago in order to protect children
'You acted in a manipulative way,' he told Ward.
'You downloaded various apps and created accounts using different names. It was clear, when police came to enforce the order, that you tried to delete history and avoid criminal responsibility.
'You refuted an interest in children at the start, but then were very honest. These offences have raised the risks to children. There are real risks of harm to children, due to your intentions.
'However, it gives me hope that there's scope for rehabilitation. I am satisfied that what you said to probation, while it raises alarm, work can be done to break the risks of future offending."
Judge Khan jailed Ward for 12 months, but suspended the custodial term for 2 years.
As part of that he must complete 30 rehabilitation activity days, as well as 26 sessions of programme requirements.
Judge Khan made a deprivation order for the device used by Ward, and ordered him to pay £400 towards costs.
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