GARY DAVIES FROM WORKINGTON JAILED FOR BREACHING COURT ORDERS AND THEFTS AT LOCAL ANGLING CLUBS

In May 2014, Gary Davies, a resident of Firth View Walk in Workington, was sentenced to prison after a series of breaches of court-imposed restrictions and criminal activities linked to his involvement with local angling clubs. The case highlighted ongoing concerns about compliance with court orders and the risks posed by individuals with a criminal past.

Davies, who is classified as a disabled individual and is wheelchair-bound due to various health issues, had previously been subjected to a Sexual Offences Prevention Order (SOPO) issued in 2004. This order was a response to his conviction for nine counts of making indecent photographs of children. Despite the restrictions, Davies had repeatedly violated the terms of this order, which specifically prohibited him from accessing the internet without police supervision.

According to court records, Davies had breached the SOPO on four separate occasions since April of the previous year. The breaches came to light when police discovered that he had been using a Blackberry mobile phone to access the internet, a device that was not under monitoring at the time. The police investigation revealed that Davies’s laptop, which was equipped with monitoring software, had connected to the Blackberry in March. When questioned, Davies claimed that he only owned a basic mobile phone incapable of internet access. However, subsequent police visits to his home uncovered the Blackberry device alongside his laptop.

Faced with evidence, Davies admitted that he had purchased the phone on eBay and acknowledged that he had violated the court order. He insisted that his internet activity was limited to benign sites such as Facebook and eBay, denying any inappropriate use. The court also heard that Davies had previously broken the order in June 2012 while serving as treasurer for the Workington and District Sea Angling Club. During that period, a 15-year-old boy visited his home twice—once to purchase fishing hooks and another time to use Davies’s PayPal account. These incidents raised concerns about unsupervised contact with minors, which was prohibited under the terms of his SOPO.

Further breaches included Davies purchasing an iPhone and using another unmonitored laptop. His criminal activities extended beyond internet violations; he was also found to have stolen over £1,500 from the North West Sea Angling League and nearly £1,000 from the Workington angling club during his tenure as treasurer. At one point, Davies claimed he was being blackmailed by an individual known as “Johnno,” which he later admitted was false, and he confessed to the thefts.

Prosecutor Beccy McGregor outlined the extent of Davies’s criminal record, which dates back to 1986 and includes 34 offences such as theft, forgery, and indecent assault. Notably, in 1997, Davies was convicted of indecently assaulting an 11-year-old girl. His past also involves helping a 14-year-old girl forge an ID pass to gain entry into a nightclub and a 1991 indecent assault. These convictions underscored the serious nature of his violations and the potential risk he posed.

During the court proceedings, Davies’s defense lawyer, Mark Shepherd, acknowledged that his client had “thrown caution to the wind” by accessing the internet on his Blackberry, despite knowing the restrictions. He emphasized Davies’s fragile health, which includes heart problems, suspected renal failure, and bipolar disorder. Shepherd argued that Davies’s home was specially adapted for his physical needs and that a prison sentence could jeopardize his housing situation, which was vital for his ongoing care.

Judge Barbara Forrester sentenced Davies to a total of ten months in prison. She activated a previously suspended six-month sentence and added four months for the latest breach, to run concurrently. Additionally, Davies was ordered to pay a £100 surcharge. The judge’s remarks reflected her concern about Davies’s unwillingness to comply with court orders, which she described as a significant factor in her decision. The case served as a stark reminder of the importance of adherence to legal restrictions, especially for individuals with a history of sexual offences and thefts in the Workington area.