Michael Bradshaw 37

Description

A sex offender who hid a secret phone under his mum's mattress has been jailed.

When the device was found, at Michael Bradshaw's home, it was discovered the internet history had been deleted.

It was in breach of a Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO) passed as part of a 19-month suspended prison sentence.

The order was imposed on Bradshaw, previously known as Michael Bagnall, in October last year for offences including attempting to engage in sexual communication with a child.

Durham Crown Court heard that the order made it clear he must inform his risk manager if the obtained a phone or any new device capable of accessing the internet and, if so, it must retain the internet history.

A phone he previously owned was seized by police in February and Bradshaw subsequently claimed he did not have a new device.

But by May this year it emerged that he had been untruthful and that he did have a new phone about which he had not informed his risk manager.

Police went to his property and found the phone hidden under a mattress in his mother’s bedroom.

It was discovered he had been using it since at least February 16 and that he also had access to a Telegram platform.

When examined it was discovered the internet history had been deleted.

Bradshaw was interviewed and admitted having used the phone when he had been on “sniff” and he confirmed he had hidden it under the mattress in his mother’s bedroom.

The 37-year-old defendant of Osric Place, Newton Aycliffe, admitted four counts of breaching the SHPO, which put him in breach of the suspended order from last October.

Charlie Thompson, prosecuting, said other elements of the sentence passed in October, specifically a 200-hour unpaid work requirement, had not even begun, while the defendant also failed to engage with a substance abuse course.

Michele Turner, in mitigation, said on the face of it the defendant, “appears to be a bit of a contradiction”, but, “faced with overwhelming evidence” he did make admissions when he initially went before magistrates.

“There’s clearly something that needs to be addressed in his background.

“His drug and alcohol issues arise out of untreated mental health issues.

“He’s on waiting lists for treatment which he finds frustrating.”

Miss Turner said it would appear Bradshaw had used drink and drugs to “self-medicate” in the absence of prescribed medication.

“Clearly there has been self-medication going on.”

Judge Nathan Adams told the defendant he had been given a chance with the suspended sentence passed by the court in October last year, but it was an opportunity spurned by the deliberate breaches of the SHPO earlier this year.

“You knew full well that you were not allowed access to an internet-capable device without the police’s knowledge.”

The judge added that but for those breaches of the SHPO by Bradshaw the Probation Service would have brought the case back to court over his failure to perform unpaid work.

He passed a prison sentence totalling 23 months, including 15 months activated of the previous suspended sentence.

Judge Adams reminded Bradshaw that upon his release he will still be subject of the SHPO until October 2034.

He added that any further breaches would only result in longer and longer sentences.