Description
A registered sex offender who was caught destroying evidence during an unannounced visit by our specialist team has been jailed.
Officers from our Sex Offenders Management Unit (SOMU) visited Dominic O'Flanagan, 44, on 7th June 2022 to make sure he was abiding by his Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO).
The SHPO was put in place after he was convicted of a number of offences including those relating to child abuse material and SHPO breaches.
During the visit, O’Flanagan’s computer was checked and officers found a system running that was deleting files. His computer and two external hard drivers were subsequently seized.
Cleveland Police’s Digital Forensic Unit carried out an examination which led to prohibited images of children being found and evidence of the file deleting software being used.
He was arrested and charged with breaching his SHPO and possessing a prohibited image of a child and he was sentenced on Thursday 12th August to eight months in prison.
O’Flanagan was also made subject to a seven-year SHPO, meaning he will be managed by Cleveland's specially trained Management of Sexual or Violent Offenders Officers.
Investigating officer Detective Constable Barnes from the Paedophile Online Investigation Team (POLIT) said:
“O’Flanagan is a repeat offender who has failed to comply with his Registered Sex Offender Notification requirements and has breached his SHPO a number of times.
“He tried to hide his offending by deleting files from his computer but our officers were able to catch him in the act. I’m pleased that O’Flanagan was today given a custodial sentence so he is unable to continue his disgusting crimes.
“I’d like to thank everyone involved in bringing O’Flanagan to justice. We will continue to pursue those accessing such material and protect the vulnerable from harm.”