DAVID BRISTOW FROM CHATHAM JAILED AGAIN FOR SEXUAL OFFENCE BREACHES IN KENT AND NETHERLANDS
In a recent development at Maidstone Crown Court, David Bristow, a 70-year-old man residing in Chatham, has been sentenced to additional time behind bars after being found guilty of breaching court-imposed restrictions related to his previous sexual offences.Bristow, who has a long and troubling history of sexual misconduct spanning multiple countries, including the Netherlands, was once again brought before the court due to violations of his court orders.
Judge Julian Smith expressed his concerns about Bristow’s persistent pattern of offending and non-compliance, stating, “His interest is perfectly clear and well established.” The court heard that Bristow has appeared in court on 20 separate occasions, facing a total of 48 offences, of which 33 are related to sexual misconduct.
His criminal record reflects a troubling pattern of repeated offending, which has led to multiple convictions and lengthy prison sentences in the past.
Most recently, Bristow was recalled to custody after serving a 13-month sentence imposed on April 20.
He committed the breaches within days of his release, demonstrating a blatant disregard for the court’s orders.
The breaches included tampering with a sexual harm prevention order (SHPO) and failing to update the sex offenders’ register as required by law.
When police officers visited his residence on Chelmer Road in Chatham on July 3, they discovered that the tablet device he owned had been wiped clean, with the memory completely erased.
This action was taken shortly after Bristow visited an O2 shop on June 30, where he performed a factory reset on the device, an act that was explicitly against the conditions of his SHPO.
Further violations included Bristow’s failure to notify authorities within three days of opening an Individual Savings Account (ISA) at a bank, a requirement for registered sex offenders.
Prosecutor Andrew Forsyth highlighted that Bristow’s history of breaches is not new; he has previously served sentences of 10 and nine years for similar offences.
The court was also informed that Bristow had failed to keep police informed about his financial activities, which could potentially provide him with increased financial flexibility and opportunities to reoffend.
During the hearing, Sara Haroon, representing Bristow, acknowledged her client’s breaches and revealed that he had suffered sexual abuse himself as a child, which may have contributed to his ongoing issues.
Despite this, Judge Smith emphasized the seriousness of Bristow’s actions, particularly noting that the tablet was not functioning at the time of police checks, leaving authorities unable to determine what data might have been stored on it.
In light of his extensive criminal history and the nature of his breaches, Judge Smith sentenced David Bristow to an additional 10 months in prison, underscoring the gravity of his repeated violations and the importance of safeguarding the community from individuals with such a troubling record.
