Sunderland sex offender jailed after selling his phone before police could check it
A Sunderland sex offender who sold his mobile phone before police could check it and without telling them has been jailed.
William Jones, 68, sold it to a city centre business and it was in their window of their when officers alerted to his behaviour arrived, a court heard.
Jones was obliged to tell his offender manager of any internet enabled device he possessed - and its whereabouts - under the terms of a court order imposed in May 2023.
The 10-year protective measure was put in place following his conviction for attempting to communicate sexually with a girl aged under 16.
When arrested, the homeless offender told detectives: “My phone? Sold it, times are tough.”
Prosecutor Glenda Beck revealed he had also breached his sexual harm prevention order (SHPO), or the linked notification requirements which apply to sex offenders, several times.
His last breach resulted in him being made subject to a 12-month suspended prison sentence.
At South Tyneside Magistrates’ Court, Jones pleaded admitted one count of breaching a SHPO by selling the phone without a reasonable excuse on October 2.
For that, magistrates jailed him for 35 weeks and activated the full 12 months of the suspended sentence, to run concurrently, meaning he is jailed for a year.
Mrs Beck said: “On September 27 of this year, a police officer and a colleague conducted an initial visit with Mr Jones.
“He denied he had bought a new device but after being questioned, he said he had and he would register it with police.
“He was aware he had to present it to offence management officers if he wanted to sell the device.
“On September 30, they received a document that he had registered that new device, a Honer 600.
“On October 10, they were notified by a probation officer that he had visited them and had been told that he had sold the device.
“That was despite him being aware that he had to provide the phone for inspection before selling it.”
Emily Baker Harrington, defending, said Jones had got rid of the device out of desperation for cash after becoming homeless.
She insisted there was no evidence of anything untoward on it, adding: “He complied honestly with the officers.”
Jones must also pay a £187 victim surcharge and £85 costs on release.