Yeovil sex offender could be jailed after hiding mobile phone from police
A registered sex offender could be jailed after hiding his mobile phone from police when they went to his Yeovil home for routine checks.
Jack Oaten was subject to a Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO) order after being convicted of possessing indecent images of children and was told he must provide any internet-enabled devices to officers on request.
When they went to his address he was asked to hand over any devices he had. He gave them his laptop but said he couldn’t find his phone and thought he may have left it at work, Yeovil Magistrates’ Court heard.
It was later found under his sofa and he handed it over; saying he had opened an old email dating back to 2016 a few weeks earlier and was afraid it had downloaded pornographic images automatically.
Oaten, 24, currently of no fixed address, admitted to failing to produce his mobile phone upon request of a police officer on September 12, 2018.
Prosecutor Emma Lenanton told the court Oaten had been convicted of downloading indecent images of children and was not allowed to use device capable of accessing the internet unless it retained its history and he made it available for inspectionby police.
“On the day in question two officers attended the defendant’s address on a routine visit and asked him to hand over his devices,” she said.
“He said his laptop was in the living room but wanted to change his clothes before handing over his phone, saying it was on charge.
“He then said he may have left it at work so the police phoned the number but it was turned off. The other device was examined and they left the address, tried calling his mobile again and it connected but was not answered so they suspected it was at his home address.
“They attended again later that evening and called the number again, but it would not connect and Oaten then said it was under the sofa.”
Oaten was also subject to a two-year suspended prison sentence, which has now been breached.
August 2017
Yeovil man spared jail despite downloading nearly 5,000 images of child abuse
A Yeovil man who downloaded nearly 5,000 image of child abuse has been spared jail.
Jack Oaten, 22, of no fixed address, was sentenced at Taunton Crown Court after admitting downloading nearly 5,000 indecent pictures of children, and more than 350 indecent videos of children, between April and May last year (2016).
Appearing before Recorder Paul Garlick QC, he was handed a one-year prison sentence, suspended for two years and ordered to pay £500 costs and a £100 victim surcharge.
He will also have to carry out up to 30 days of rehabilitation requirements.
