July 2022 Swindon sex offender took alcohol to probation meeting A convicted sex offender is in trouble once again after taking alcohol to a probation meeting. Carl Eric Kavanagh was given a suspended sentence after he engaged in sexual communication with a 14-year-old girl last year. His six-month sentence, suspended for 18 months, contained a requirement to carry out 40 rehabilitation activity days and appointments with the probation service, including the Horizon programme. But Swindon Magistrates’ Court heard on Monday (July 11) that Kavanagh turned up to some sessions drunk and brought alcohol to another. The breach, which the 38-year-old admitted, stated that he failed to report to office appointments on May 31, June 7 and June 21, and failed to comply with instructions on June 28 by bringing alcohol to an appointment. Probation officer Nic Lincoln told the court that “there has been some good work” with Kavanagh, who previously admitted engaging in communication with a child for the purpose of obtaining sexual gratification in late 2019 and early 2020, and an unrelated count of harassment. The charge stated that he wanted to become “more than friends” with the child, and attempted to arrange to meet her secretly, according to court documents. “The sessions were designed to be at 9 o’clock in the morning, that was the best time to get Carl not under the influence,” Mr Lincoln continued. But he said that a previous interview at 10am saw him “heavily intoxicated”. Mr Lincoln also added that he was drunk for “a lot of them but not to the point where he was incoherent”. “It seems that this was the first one where alcohol was brought into the session.” District Judge Joanna Dickens said that she was not going to activate he suspended sentence “because you seem to be doing alright”. “It’s really a let off but you must continue to co-operate with probation”. Instead, she imposed a fine of £100 – but he will not have to pay it because it was deemed already paid by appearing in court and the time he has spent in custody over the weekend   Update: Judge Dickens also imposed 40 rehabilitation activity requirement days and order him to undertake the Horizon programme, delivered to men considered to be at a medium, high or very high risk of reoffending. He was told to sign the sex offenders register for seven years.   April 2021 Dad-of-six told child she was “fit” and suggested being more than friends A dad-of-six must sign the sex offenders register after telling a child she was “fit”. Carl Kavanagh, 37, appeared at Swindon Magistrates’ Court this morning charged with engaging in communication with a child for the purpose of obtaining sexual gratification between 25 December 2019 and 6 January 2020. Crown prosecutor Keith Ballinger said the defendant, of Stubsmead, Eldene, began messaging his friend’s teenage daughter on Facebook about a car her father was selling, but those messages soon turned perverted. The court heard Kavanagh was friends with his 14-year-old victim’s father and had often drunk together at his address. His victim was known to him prior to this offending. He’s said to have complimented her, saying “I think you’re fit” despite the child repeatedly telling him her age. Kavanagh also said: “We can be more than friends if you want to.” The girl believed what he was saying was wrong and informed her father. Subsequently, he informed the police. When he was interviewed about the claims, he told officers he couldn’t remember when he added her on Facebook, but had added her to message her about a car being sold by her father. It was confirmed he remained friends with her on Facebook at the time of the interview, despite his now-fiancée having told him to unfriend her following the allegation. He admitted the offence District judge Joanna Dickens ordered a pre-sentence report and adjourned the case for sentencing in May. She told Kavanagh he must visit Gablecross Police Station to register a sex offender within 72 hours. The length of time he’ll be on the register will be determined during sentencing.