A REGISTERED sex offender hastily deleted illegal Instagram chat from his phone as police conducted a home visit. Benjamin Michael Perry Grant, 29, was jailed at Carlisle Crown Court for what a judge called a “series of offences” linked to past crimes. Grant had previously been in a relationship with a woman from March to November, 2023. He was convicted of stalking her in February, 2024, and slapped with a restraining order as part of a punishment he received last April. He had also previously been made subject to a sexual harm prevention order (SHPO) and the terms of sex offender notification requirements for other past offences. These were imposed both to restrict his online use and keep police aware of up to date personal information. Yet Grant was back in trouble on 5th October, 2024, when officers conducted a home visit at his address. “His phone was checked and it transpired that four applications which were previously disclosed as being on the device were not longer present,” Estelle Chambers, prosecuting, told the court. “Forensic analysis also shows that an Instagram conversation had been deleted from the device. The date and time of the deleted messages corresponds with the date and time of the police home visit, suggesting that the defendant deleted the messages as police arrived.” These messages had been sent by Grant to his ex-partner, one reading: “Do not reply. Police checks.” Ms Chambers also said: “The victim states she has been contacted by the defendant several times since the restraining order was imposed.” Although she had told Grant to stop getting in touch, he sent her a number of voice notes. In October, Grant was seen standing within 50 metres of her address — in breach of the restraining order. In addition, Grant had set up a new Instagram account which was not disclosed to police. After officers visited his home, Grant asked his former partner to consider withdrawing the restraining order. Summarising the impact on the woman, the prosecutor said: “She describes the situation as deeply affecting her mental health, leading to feelings of depression and distress.” Grant, previously of Kirkby Thore but now of no fixed address, admitted five SHPO breaches, and flouting both the restraining order and notification requirements. Mark Shepherd, mitigating, said no threatening messages had been sent by Grant who, he added, wanted to get back into work and live a law-abiding life. Judge Nicholas Barker imposed an immediate 15-month prison sentence. Grant was also banned from contacting his ex-partner for three years. “You wished to assert control over her, and continued to do so,” the judge observed.