Christopher While

Christopher While, a 38-year-old man from Barrow-in-Furness, Cumbria, appeared at Preston Crown Court on 7 April 2024, where he was sentenced for breaching his Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO). While had been registered as a sex offender since 2017, following a conviction for possession of indecent photographs of children, which resulted in the imposition of a 10-year SHPO. The order prohibited him from owning any internet-capable device without approved monitoring software and required him to notify police of any new devices or bank cards within three days of acquisition.

The breaches came to light in October 2023 during a routine police check at his home on Smeaton Street. Officers from Cumbria Police discovered that While was in possession of three smartphones and three bank cards that had not been registered as required. While claimed he had reset his computer due to performance issues and requested reinstallation of the monitoring software, but the process had not been completed. He showed the devices to police without resistance, though he admitted he could not recall the full conditions of his SHPO.

Prosecutor Charlotte Phillips outlined the details to the court, stating: "While told the police that he had reset his computer because it was running slow and he asked for the monitoring software to be put back on but this can take a certain amount of time. On October 15, the police asked to see the computer and he showed them without complaint, though he claimed that he couldn't remember the conditions of his Sexual Harm Prevention Order. On the same day, police discovered that he was in possession of three bank cards and three smartphones that had never been registered with the police, despite having a requirement to do so within three days of purchase."

In mitigation, defence counsel Beth Pilling argued that the breaches were not intentional, saying: "While had 'overlooked important conditions' but that there had not been 'deliberate disregard' for the rules. The phones were not for deceitful use and there were no photos found on any of them. He doesn't have a lot of money so he is using these broken phones for different reasons, such as using one for the sole purpose of charging the battery for another. He has been fully cooperative with the police and has vowed that this will never happen again - the public are better protected if he is further educated and rehabilitated, rather than being sent to prison."

His Honour Judge Guy Mathieson, presiding at Preston Crown Court, acknowledged While's generally good compliance over nearly the full term of the order but noted the inherent suspicions such breaches raise. The judge remarked: "You have been on this order now for almost its full length and there has been good compliance for the most part. The problem you will always have is that if you are forgetful or if you do something that breaches these conditions almost by accident, the assumption is that you are doing that to try and hide something. There has been no evidence of you falling back onto your old ways - the police concern is that you are up to no good but, on this occasion, there seems to be no sign that that is the case, which is lucky for you." Consequently, While was sentenced to 10 months' imprisonment, suspended for 12 months, avoiding immediate custody.

The case was first heard at South Cumbria Magistrates' Court in December 2023, where While pleaded guilty to five charges of breaching the SHPO. This incident underscores the ongoing enforcement of protective orders aimed at preventing further sexual harm by registered offenders in the UK.