Rafikul Ashrafi 35

Description

Sex offender jailed after failing to declare internet devices

A registered sex offender has been sent back to prison after failing to tell police he had internet-enabled devices, in breach of a Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO).

Rafikul Ashrafi, 35, admitted three counts of breaching the order at Crewe Magistrates’ Court. He was jailed for 12 months.

The SHPO was imposed at Manchester Crown Court in August 2025 and is intended to restrict his ability to commit further sexual offences. Such orders allow specialist officers to monitor offenders through measures including home visits and checks on electronic devices.

Ashrafi committed the breaches on 30 July 2026 while living in Warrington. He failed to notify police that he possessed an iPhone, a Samsung mobile phone and a Lenovo Legion computer. Possession of those devices is lawful for the general public, but not declaring them was prohibited under the terms of his order.

Magistrates took his guilty plea into account but said the offences were so serious that only a custodial sentence could be justified. They said the case was aggravated by his previous convictions for similar offences, and by the fact that he was subject to licence conditions and a court order at the time. The court also noted that the breaches were committed “so soon” after his previous release from custody.

Ashrafi, formerly of Bewsey Street, Warrington, and now of HMP Altcourse, was not ordered to pay court costs. He must pay a £187 victim surcharge. The SHPO remains in force.