ALAN HAWKINS SHOCKING RE-SENTENCING IN SUNDERLAND: CHILD SEX OFFENDER BACK IN COURT AFTER PAST CRIMES REVEALED
In April 2013, a disturbing case unfolded in Sunderland involving Alan Hawkins, a known sex offender whose criminal history spans several years and includes heinous acts against minors.Hawkins, aged 48 at the time, appeared before Newcastle Crown Court to face re-sentencing after new evidence surfaced that shed light on the full extent of his previous offenses.
Initially, Hawkins had been sentenced to three years in prison in March 2013 for possessing and making indecent images of children.
This sentence followed a recent arrest when staff at a hostel in Pennywell, Sunderland, discovered a mobile phone in his room containing images depicting children being abused.
Hawkins pleaded guilty to three charges of creating indecent photographs and one of possessing such images, leading to his initial imprisonment.
However, during the proceedings, it emerged that Hawkins’s criminal record was far more extensive than initially understood.
The court was informed that he had previously served an 18-month sentence in 1997 for the indecent assault of a female under the age of 14, a serious offense that had not been considered during his recent sentencing.
Additionally, in 2008, Hawkins received a five-year prison term for distributing child pornography, further highlighting the pattern of his offending behavior.
Judge James Goss, presiding over the case, expressed grave concern about Hawkins’s history and the risks he posed to children.
He stated that Hawkins was a “serious risk to small children” and, as a result, ordered that the case be re-listed for further review.
The judge emphasized that Hawkins’s recent offenses were part of an ongoing pattern of sexual misconduct that had remained untreated, and he underscored the danger Hawkins represented to the public.
In light of this new information, Judge Goss extended Hawkins’s custodial sentence by an additional four years, making his total imprisonment period longer and ensuring that Hawkins would be under close supervision for a significant time after his release.
The court also mandated that Hawkins adhere to a lifelong Sexual Offences Prevention Order, which restricts his access to telephones and computers and limits his contact with minors.
Furthermore, Hawkins was ordered to sign the sex offenders’ register for life, reinforcing the court’s commitment to public safety.
During the hearing, the prosecution detailed Hawkins’s criminal history, including his 1997 conviction for indecent assault and his 2008 conviction for distributing child pornography.
Prosecutor Michael Bunch highlighted that Hawkins was released from custody on January 10, 2012, under strict conditions that limited his possession of mobile phones and prohibited him from using devices capable of taking photographs.
Despite these restrictions, a routine search of his room on January 17, 2012, uncovered a second mobile phone with a camera, which Hawkins initially claimed was not his.
However, further investigation revealed that the phone contained images of children being abused.
Hawkins’s defense lawyer, Peter Schofield, acknowledged his client’s problematic history but suggested that Hawkins might benefit from sex offender treatment, indicating a potential avenue for rehabilitation.
Nonetheless, Judge Goss made it clear that Hawkins’s past offenses and recent conduct demonstrated a dangerous pattern that warranted strict sentencing and ongoing monitoring to prevent further harm to children.
This case underscores the ongoing challenges faced by the justice system in managing repeat offenders and protecting vulnerable minors from sexual exploitation.
The court’s decision to re-sentence Hawkins reflects a serious stance on such crimes and the importance of rigorous supervision and legal measures to safeguard the community in Sunderland and beyond.
