ANDREW FLINTON'S SHOCKING RE-OFFENSE IN BRIDLINGTON AND SCARBOROUGH

In June 2015, Andrew Flinton, a man with a troubling history linked to child exploitation, found himself back in court after breaching a strict court order. Flinton, who has previously been convicted of possessing child pornography, was found to have visited a family’s home in Scarborough on multiple occasions to assist with their internet connection.

Despite the restrictions placed upon him following his earlier conviction, Flinton entered the property, which housed underage children, including a toddler and a teenager. The court heard that the breach involved him being present in a residence where children under the age of 18 were present, an act explicitly prohibited by the sexual offences prevention order issued after his 2004 conviction.

During the hearing at Scarborough Magistrates Court, Flinton’s solicitor, Robert Vining, attempted to clarify the circumstances, stating that the case was not as straightforward as it appeared. Vining explained that the mother of the household was aware of Flinton’s past, having known about his previous conviction for child pornography before allowing him inside.

He emphasized that Flinton’s visits were solely for technical assistance, specifically to improve the family's internet speed, and insisted that there was no intention or opportunity for any inappropriate conduct involving the children. “At no time has he ever been in the house with just the children,” Vining asserted.

Flinton, who is currently unemployed and residing on Royal Avenue, appeared in court with his hands clasped, pleading guilty to breaching the court order. This marked his first appearance since his initial conviction over a decade ago, which involved 21 charges related to possessing indecent images of children. In that case, he was sentenced to 15 months in prison, with Judge Paul Hoffman highlighting the high risk of re-offending if he was not placed on a treatment program.

Following his release, North Yorkshire Police imposed a sexual offences prevention order aimed at preventing future offenses by restricting his access to children and the internet. Since then, Flinton has been reliant on Jobseeker’s Allowance and spends much of his time visiting his ailing mother, who becomes upset if he does not visit her regularly.

He was released on conditional bail ahead of sentencing, scheduled for July 2 at Scarborough Magistrates Court. The court warned him that failure to return on that date could constitute an offense. A comprehensive sentencing report will be prepared to determine the appropriate penalty.

In a related case from May 2004, Flinton, then aged 40 and residing in Bridlington, was jailed for possessing approximately 11,000 indecent images of children. Police had raided his home on December 14 of that year after receiving information, uncovering images that included some classified as levels four and five, the most severe forms of child abuse.

Judge Paul Hoffman condemned Flinton’s actions, stating, “Some were sadistic and involved very little children, and by doing this you contributed to the abuse and degradation of children.” The court learned that Flinton initially downloaded the material out of curiosity but became addicted, leading to his possession of the images.

Mitigating circumstances presented by his solicitor, Simon Phillips, highlighted Flinton’s lack of prior convictions, his cooperation with police, and his struggles with health issues such as claustrophobia and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). Phillips argued that Flinton, who had spent two years on incapacity benefit, was a hard-working individual who had been bullied at school, suffering from low self-esteem and depression.

Judge Hoffman sentenced Flinton to 15 months in prison, emphasizing the high risk of re-offending without intervention. Upon release, Flinton will serve a five-year license period, must register as a sex offender within three days, and is permanently barred from working with children.