ASHLEIGH WELLER IN HANLEY JAILED FOR BREACHING COURT ORDER
Sex offender Ashleigh Weller has been sentenced to jail after breaching a court order by engaging with children in a manner that suggested he was inviting them to take a dog for a walk.
The 25-year-old, residing on Marsh Street in Hanley, was initially subject to a 10-year sexual harm prevention order following his conviction for sexual activity with a minor.
On June 9, at North Staffordshire Justice Centre, Weller pleaded guilty to violating this order.
Prosecutor Maggie Meakin explained that Weller was at a friend's house when he started talking to children playing in a neighbor's garden.
She stated, "Ashleigh instigated conversation with the boys.
He invited them into the garden and asked if they wanted to come to take the dog for a walk." Her portrayal highlighted Weller's deliberate act of disregarding the conditions of his court-imposed restrictions.
This behavior constituted a breach of his suspended sentence order.
In response, Zoe Leese, representing Weller, argued that he struggled to understand the restrictions of his sexual harm prevention order.
She said, "He is exceptionally vulnerable, and therefore I would suggest it would be unjust to activate his suspended sentence." Despite her plea, the magistrates disagreed and activated three weeks of Weller's suspended sentence.
Additionally, they sentenced him to three weeks in prison—serving concurrently—for the new offense, resulting in a total of three weeks in custody.
Court Outcome
Conviction and Sentencing Details
Sentenced
Detected legal outcome
Sex offender Ashleigh Weller has been sentenced to jail after breaching a court order by engaging with children in a manner that suggested he was inviting them to take a dog for a walk. The 25-year-old, residing on Marsh Street in Hanley...
Court order
The 25-year-old, residing on Marsh Street in Hanley, was initially subject to a 10-year sexual harm prevention order following his conviction for sexual activity with a minor
Suspended sentence
This behavior constituted a breach of his suspended sentence order
Court order
In response, Zoe Leese, representing Weller, argued that he struggled to understand the restrictions of his sexual harm prevention order
Suspended sentence
three weeks
She said, "He is exceptionally vulnerable, and therefore I would suggest it would be unjust to activate his suspended sentence." Despite her plea, the magistrates disagreed and activated three weeks of Weller's suspended sentence
Prison sentence
three weeks
Additionally, they sentenced him to three weeks in prison-serving concurrently-for the new offense, resulting in a total of three weeks in custody
