Daniel Everitt

Daniel Everitt, a 33-year-old man from Consett, appeared before Newton Aycliffe Magistrates' Court after breaching a sexual risk order (SRO) just eight days after it was imposed. The order had been issued to monitor his online activities, although he had not been convicted of any sexual offences.

Everitt, of Durham Road, Blackhill, Consett, was arrested during a routine police visit to his home when officers discovered notifications from dating sites on his phone. Prosecuting, Syed Ali told the court that the defendant's risk manager officer had attended his address for a regular visit and found evidence that he had registered on three dating websites: Second Match Finder, Flirt for Dates, and Maria Dates, without informing the authorities.

Everitt had no previous convictions. In mitigation, John Clish explained that his client suffered from several medical conditions and emphasised that sexual risk orders are civil in nature, requiring a lower standard of proof than criminal convictions. The defendant pleaded guilty to three breaches of his SRO, which occurred on 18 March of the year in question.

Suzanne Chivers, chairwoman of the bench, sentenced Everitt to 14 weeks in custody, suspended for 12 months, along with a 12-month community order requiring 27 rehabilitation activity requirement days. She noted that the custodial threshold had been passed but opted to suspend the sentence. Everitt was also ordered to sign the sex offenders' register for seven years and to pay £239 in court costs. The case was prosecuted by Durham Constabulary.