BRIAN HERON FROM GATESHEAD JAILED FOR REPEATED BREACHES OF SEX OFFENDER RESTRICTIONS
Brian Heron, a 67-year-old man residing on Claremont South Avenue in Gateshead, has been sentenced to prison following a series of violations of the strict conditions imposed on him due to his past criminal conduct.Heron, who once called himself "Brian Robocop" online, was convicted of engaging in sexual activity in the presence of a child in 2011, leading to the imposition of a sexual harm prevention order and mandatory registration as a sex offender.
Since that time, he has repeatedly breached these legal restrictions, demonstrating a pattern of non-compliance that ultimately resulted in his incarceration.
Heron’s latest violations came to light when authorities uncovered his continued attempts to evade monitoring and restrictions.
In February of the previous year, police officers visited his residence in Gateshead and discovered that he had installed software on his mobile device designed to delete internet browsing history—software he was explicitly forbidden from using.
Although the officers removed the application during their visit, subsequent investigations revealed that Heron had reinstalled the same or similar software on his device, indicating deliberate efforts to conceal his online activity.
Further examination of his phone uncovered a message from Heron stating, "getting laptop up and running today," despite him not having registered any such device with the police, as required by law.
This indicated an ongoing attempt to operate unregistered devices under his pseudonym, "Brian Robocop," which he had not disclosed to authorities.
Police also found a mobile phone hidden beneath a mattress, along with two bank cards that Heron had failed to report, breaching the conditions of his registration and notification requirements.
When the police examined his devices, they confirmed that Heron was still using the alias "Brian Robocop" online, and the internet history-wiping software was present on his phone.
In August of the previous year, officers returned to his home to conduct further checks.
Heron handed over a Nokia phone, claiming it was registered with the police, but investigations proved otherwise.
During questioning, he admitted to forgetting to register the bank cards but maintained that the cleaning software on his devices did not delete his internet history, only "cleaned the device." Heron’s criminal record is extensive, with 17 previous convictions.
Notably, he was convicted of indecent assault on a male youth in 1994, which resulted in a probation order, and of engaging in sexual activity in the presence of a child under 13 in 2011, for which he received a community order.
Following his 2011 conviction, he was subject to a sexual harm prevention order and was required to sign the sex offenders register.
In court, Heron pleaded guilty to multiple breaches of his sexual harm prevention order—specifically, the fifth and sixth breaches—and to violations of his sex offender notification requirements, the second and third breaches.
Judge Amanda Rippon sentenced him to 27 months in prison.
The court was informed that Heron suffers from health issues, including diabetes and mobility problems, and that he had spent over six months in custody on remand, which he described as "horrific" and expressed a desire to avoid returning to prison.
His legal representative stated that Heron "apologises profusely and accepts responsibility for his actions," highlighting his remorse and the seriousness of his repeated violations.
