Andrew Boatwright

Andrew Boatwright, a 25-year-old resident of Sorrel Close in Stockton-on-Tees, appeared at Teesside Crown Court after breaching his sexual harm prevention order shortly after receiving a suspended sentence for prior sexual offences.

In April this year, Boatwright had been given a 20-month suspended sentence for two years following convictions on three counts of possession of indecent images of children, possession of prohibited images, and possession of images of extreme pornography. As part of his sentencing, he was required to sign the sex offenders' register and was made subject to a sexual harm prevention order designed to monitor and restrict his activities to prevent further offending.

However, just 73 days into the order, between May 10 and September 18 this year, Boatwright reverted to his previous behaviour. Prosecuting, Caroline McGurk told the court that Boatwright used an alias on his Xbox and an incognito browser on a Samsung tablet that he had failed to register with his offender manager. The tablet was discovered hidden under his mattress during a check, and forensic examination revealed he had downloaded 38 Category A indecent images of children—the most severe category—along with 58 Category B images and 169 Category C images. Boatwright did not volunteer the existence of the device and pleaded guilty to the downloads, three breaches of his sexual harm prevention order, and breaching his notification requirements.

Mitigating, Eleanor Bohill highlighted Boatwright's disturbed and troubled background, including a history of substance abuse from a young age, which may have contributed to his actions. Despite this, Judge Jonathan Carroll expressed disappointment in Boatwright's failure to engage with the probation service as intended. 'You were only 73 days into that order when you committed these offences,' the judge stated. 'I am certain that you knew full well that you should have disclosed the Samsung tablet to the police otherwise you wouldn’t have needed to hide it under your mattress or failed to disclose it to the police.'

The judge activated 14 months of the original suspended sentence and imposed an additional 20 months for the recent offences, resulting in a total custodial term of two years and ten months. 'I have no doubt at all that the court’s primary concern in April was to give you a chance to engage with probation service to help you get back on track and help you deal with your innate sexual desires and emotions. You only get one chance at that and you have squandered it,' Judge Carroll remarked. The case was reported by The Northern Echo, with details emerging from the court proceedings at Teesside Crown Court in Middlesbrough.