DANIEL THORNE EXETER SEX OFFENDER VIOLATES ORDER BY ENGAGING WITH GIRLS IN ONLINE CHAT ROOMS

In June 2015, a man named Daniel Thorne, a registered sex offender residing in Exeter, found himself back in trouble for breaching the strict conditions imposed upon him by a Sexual Offences Prevention Order (SOPO).

Thorne, aged 26 and living on Prince Charles Road in Exeter, had previously been subjected to this order after an incident in which he attempted to meet a girl he had encountered through an online chat room. The order was specifically designed to restrict his access to certain internet sites and prevent him from engaging in activities that could lead to further offending.

Despite these restrictions, Thorne was accused of going online under a false name, thereby violating the terms of his SOPO. Exeter Crown Court was informed that he had contacted underage girls through chat rooms, breaching the conditions of his order. The court heard that Thorne had admitted to three breaches of the order, which led to his remand in custody. Assistant Judge Advocate General Alan Large ordered Thorne to remain in detention while the probation service prepared a pre-sentence report to determine appropriate sentencing.

During the proceedings, Thorne’s legal representative, Mr. James Rickard, emphasized that his client was not heavily convicted in the past and had completed a sex offenders’ rehabilitation programme. Rickard suggested that Thorne had simply gone astray after completing his treatment, implying that he was not a habitual offender but someone who had made a mistake.

Earlier incidents involving Thorne also drew police attention. In February 2012, officers from Exeter posed as an 11-year-old girl in an undercover operation to investigate Thorne’s online activity. The police’s tactic was to engage him in conversation on Facebook, where they discovered he was exchanging messages with what he believed to be a young girl. Thorne was arrested after he arranged to meet the fictitious child, which was part of the police’s sting operation.

Following his arrest, Thorne’s computer was seized for examination. During police interviews, he admitted to being in contact with a male who had sent him photographs, but he did not specify the age of the girls he had requested images of. Thorne did not face charges of grooming or child exploitation but was charged with possessing six indecent images of children, including one classified at Level 5 severity.

Prosecutor Philip Sewell outlined the case, stating, “Mr. Thorne was arrested after police, posing as an 11-year-old girl, made contact with him on Facebook. They arranged to meet, and after his arrest, his computer was seized. During questioning, he admitted to being in contact with a male who had sent him photographs, but he did not specify the ages of the girls he requested images of.”

Thorne’s defense lawyer, Stephen Nunn, clarified that his client was not charged with grooming and there was no evidence to suggest he had engaged in such behavior. Nunn added, “He regards what he has done very seriously and has sought medical help, feeling there is something wrong with him.”

Magistrates sentenced Thorne to a community order with a 36-month supervision requirement. Additionally, he was placed under a sexual offences prevention order that prohibited him from having contact with children unless absolutely necessary, such as in retail situations. The court’s decision aimed to balance public safety with the possibility of rehabilitation for Thorne, who remains under strict monitoring to prevent further breaches.