October 2020 Hampshire sex offender back in court after breaching order A convicted sex offender has admitted to breaching a sexual harm prevention order. Edward Botheras had previously been in court after animal porn was found on his devices. He avoided jail in 2017 after the court heard that the incident had been a “mistake” and that “he was not aware that viewing those type of images was illegal”. He was given a community order, with a sexual harm prevention order (SHPO) put in place that prevented him from using devices that can connect to the internet without informing police first. But Basingstoke Magistrates’ Court heard that the 64-year-old had breached the order, after he admitted to using an iPad, iPhone, iMac and Samsung smartphone between November 2019 and May 2020. Botheras has been released on unconditional bail until November 2, where he will be sentenced. The SHPO ordered by Winchester Crown Court three years ago was due to last for a total of five years. Botheras, of Hackwood Road, Basingstoke, was arrested at his house on March 16, 2016, for having up to 25 extreme images on his laptop, despite being under supervision for a previous sexual conviction in 2002, for which he was jailed.