Anthony Callander

Anthony Callander, a 55-year-old man from Cleator Moor in Cumbria, was sentenced at Carlisle Crown Court for breaching the terms of his Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO) and Sex Offender Register requirements. The breaches occurred after he moved to an address in Brampton without informing the police and used an undeclared mobile phone, actions that violated conditions imposed following his previous conviction for attempted sexual communication with a child.

The court heard that Callander had been subject to the SHPO since 2023, stemming from an offence where he arranged to meet a person he believed was a 14-year-old girl in Cleator Moor Square, bringing a bottle of wine with the intention of engaging in sexual activity. Although no evidence was presented of further attempts to offend, the breaches highlighted ongoing risks. Prosecutor Matthew Hopkins outlined the details, noting that police accessed telecoms data revealing Callander had transferred a SIM card from his declared Nokia phone to an undeclared Motorola handset. Additionally, intelligence indicated he had resided in Brampton for over seven days between June 15 and July 6 without notification. He also admitted failing to disclose receipt of a new bank card.

Callander, who has a criminal record comprising 112 previous offences, denied any wrongdoing when questioned by police. The undeclared phone was never recovered. Defending barrister Lucy Moran explained that Callander was caring for his mother, who has COPD and dementia with a terminal diagnosis, and that the phone belonged to a friend in Brampton, used solely for resolving benefits issues. She also referenced personal tragedies, including the death of his father, his brother's suicide, and the loss of a stillborn child.

Judge Michael Fanning, who had previously sentenced Callander in 2023, remarked on the seriousness of the breaches, stating that had Callander reoffended using the undeclared devices, he might have evaded detection. He referenced a Probation Service report concluding that Callander minimises his offending, shifts blame, and cannot be safely managed in the community. Consequently, Judge Fanning imposed a custodial sentence of one year.

The case was reported by News & Star, with details emerging from the Carlisle Crown Court hearing. Cumbria Police were involved in the investigation, accessing necessary data to uncover the breaches.