EDWARD BOTHERAS FROM BASINGSTOKE IN COURT OVER BREACH OF SEXUAL HARM PREVENTION ORDER

In a recent development at Basingstoke Magistrates' Court, Edward Botheras, a man with a troubling history related to sexual offenses, appeared to face charges of breaching a court-imposed order designed to prevent further harm. The proceedings shed light on a series of violations that have raised serious concerns about his compliance with legal restrictions.

According to court records, Botheras, aged 64 and residing on Hackwood Road in Basingstoke, had previously been involved in a case where authorities discovered explicit animal pornography on his electronic devices. This incident, which occurred prior to his current court appearance, was significant enough to warrant a court hearing in 2017. During that hearing, the court was informed that Botheras claimed the viewing of such images was a mistake, asserting that he was unaware that possessing or viewing such material was illegal. As a result, he was not sentenced to prison but was instead given a community order, which included a sexual harm prevention order (SHPO).

The SHPO was intended to restrict Botheras’s access to devices capable of connecting to the internet without prior notification to the police. This measure was put in place to monitor and prevent any further inappropriate behavior or access to harmful material. However, recent court proceedings revealed that Botheras had violated this order. The magistrates heard evidence that between November 2019 and May 2020, he used multiple electronic devices, including an iPad, iPhone, iMac, and Samsung smartphone, despite the restrictions imposed on him.

The breach was admitted by Botheras himself, leading to his being held on unconditional bail until the next court date, scheduled for November 2. At that time, he is expected to face sentencing for the breach. The original SHPO, which was ordered by Winchester Crown Court three years ago, was set to last for a total of five years, emphasizing the seriousness with which the court viewed his previous and current violations.

His arrest on March 16, 2016, marked a significant point in his criminal history. Authorities apprehended him at his residence after discovering up to 25 extreme images on his laptop. This arrest came despite his ongoing supervision for a prior sexual conviction from 2002, for which he had served time in prison. The recurrence of offenses and breaches of court orders highlight ongoing concerns about Botheras’s compliance and the potential risk he poses to the community in Basingstoke and beyond.