Carl Skully

At Blackburn Magistrates' Court, Carl Skully, a 28-year-old resident of Coal Clough Lane in Burnley, Lancashire, appeared on charges of breaching a sexual harm prevention order (SHPO). The order, imposed following his prior conviction for sexual offences, required Skully to make any internet-capable device, including his mobile phone, immediately available for police inspection to ensure compliance and prevent further harm.

The breach occurred during a routine compliance visit by Lancashire Constabulary officers. When asked to produce his mobile phone, Skully admitted he had sold it to a pawnbroker to purchase food after going several days without eating. Prosecutor Kate Moore explained to the court that this action effectively allowed Skully to use an unmonitored device, directly violating the terms of the SHPO. 'In essence, he was using a device which couldn't be monitored because he had got rid of it,' Moore stated, highlighting the risk this posed in light of Skully's history as a convicted sex offender.

Skully pleaded guilty to the breach. The court was informed that he was already scheduled for sentencing at Burnley Crown Court on 23 January 2024 for a separate violation of the same order. In light of this, magistrates committed Skully into custody to await sentencing at the Crown Court, where all related matters could be addressed concurrently. Defence counsel Philippa Curtis acknowledged the breach but provided context for Skully's actions, noting his financial desperation. 'He sold the phone to pay for food, and that was put forward when he was interviewed,' Curtis said. She added that Skully intended to repurchase the phone once his benefits arrived and regretted not informing the police beforehand. Skully himself later told officers, 'When you haven't eaten for a few days you don't think straight,' expressing remorse for his lapse in judgement.

The case underscores the challenges of enforcing SHPOs on individuals facing socioeconomic hardships, while emphasising the importance of monitoring to protect the public from potential reoffending by sex offenders. The proceedings were reported by the Lancashire Telegraph, with coverage by Magistrates Court Reporter Andrew Bellard.