ANTHONY PERRY FROM ACCRINGTON AND BURY SENT BACK TO PRISON FOR SEX OFFENCE BREACHES

In July 2019, Anthony Perry, a convicted sex offender with ties to both Accrington and Bury, was once again behind bars after breaching the terms of a sexual harm prevention order that had been imposed upon him. Perry, aged 36 at the time, had previously been convicted of child sex offences in November 2018, a conviction that resulted in a 10-month prison sentence. His initial conviction stemmed from an incident where he was caught and exposed by the paedophile hunting group known as 'Fleetwood Enforcers,' who uncovered his inappropriate online activities and communication with a supposed minor.

Following his release earlier in 2019, after serving approximately half of his sentence, Perry was subjected to strict conditions under a sexual harm prevention order. These conditions mandated that he adhere to notification requirements concerning his possession of internet-enabled devices and any use of aliases or false identities. Despite these restrictions, Perry was found to have violated the order multiple times within a short period.

At Preston Crown Court, the prosecution outlined how, in June, police conducted a visit and investigation at Perry’s residence, Highfield House bail hostel in Accrington. During this investigation, officers discovered that Perry had breached the order on five separate occasions. Additionally, he failed to notify the police on two occasions when he had used different names, namely 'King Heart Queen' and 'Mr Brown,' on dating sites, without informing authorities as required.

Prosecutor David Clark detailed the evidence seized from Perry’s belongings, including a Samsung phone, a Vodafone mobile, an Xbox, a PlayStation 4, and an Alcatel mobile phone. The police also found several SIM cards among his possessions. Clark emphasized that Perry had been actively using dating sites under aliases, which he had not disclosed to law enforcement, thereby violating the terms of his release.

During the hearing, Perry’s defense solicitor, Isobel Thomas, acknowledged that her client had simply forgotten to inform the police about the devices he possessed. She also stated that Perry accepted he should have reported these items earlier and expressed remorse for his actions. She highlighted that Perry was struggling with the prospect of being incarcerated again and requested that the court consider a shorter sentence.

Judge Mark Brown, presiding over the case, addressed Perry directly before sentencing. He noted that Perry had received a prison sentence previously and had been seen by police shortly after his release. The judge pointed out that the recent offences occurred within approximately two months of Perry’s release from custody. He emphasized that Perry had been found in possession of multiple devices, including phones, an Xbox, and a PlayStation 4, all of which he had failed to disclose to authorities. Perry had also been active on a dating site using two aliases, which he admitted to and pleaded guilty to.

Concluding the hearing, Judge Brown sentenced Perry to a further 10 months in prison, underscoring the seriousness of his repeated violations of the court’s orders and the importance of safeguarding children from potential harm. Perry’s address was noted as Lydia Street, Accrington.

Earlier, in November 2018, Perry’s criminal activities came to light when he was caught by paedophile hunters from 'Fleetwood Enforcers UK.' They had targeted him after he engaged in online grooming, believing he was communicating with a 13-year-old girl. Perry, then 35 and residing in Bury, appeared at magistrates’ court where he admitted to sexual communication with a minor. The court was informed that Perry had contacted an online profile he believed belonged to a 13-year-old girl and had sent sexually explicit messages and images.

Members of the online child protection team confronted Perry at his home, questioning him about his online activities. Perry admitted to sending the girl images of his genitalia and revealed that he had been texting her just two minutes before the team arrived. Shortly afterward, police arrived and arrested Perry. He was scheduled to appear at Manchester Crown Court for sentencing on December 3, 2018, following these serious allegations.