GARY DAVIES OF CARLISLE SENTENCED FOR VIOLATING SEX OFFENDER RESTRICTIONS IN CARLISLE

In a serious case that highlights ongoing concerns about the management of convicted sex offenders, police in Carlisle uncovered that Gary Davies, a 68-year-old man with a troubling criminal history, was actively using a hidden mobile device despite strict legal restrictions. The incident came to light after a probation worker observed Davies in the company of a couple and their young child in Carlisle, raising alarm due to the man’s known past.

According to court proceedings at Carlisle’s crown court, prosecutor Gerard Rogerson detailed how authorities became aware of Davies' latest violations. The defendant, residing on London Road in Carlisle, had previously been subject to a sexual harm prevention order, which was issued in 2021 following his conviction for outraging public decency. This order was designed to restrict his access to the internet and prevent any contact with minors, but it appears these restrictions were not fully adhered to.

Davies’ criminal record is extensive and includes serious offenses involving children. He has been convicted of “contact” sex offenses against minors, as well as possessing indecent images of children. The sexual harm prevention order specifically prohibits him from owning or using internet-enabled devices unless they are fitted with police monitoring software. Additionally, he is legally required to inform authorities of any online accounts he creates, including providing his usernames, and he is barred from having unsupervised contact with any child.

In December of the previous year, a probation officer reported to the police that Davies was seen in the city center with a couple and their three-year-old child. The couple claimed to have formed a friendship with Davies, but they were unaware of his criminal background. They provided police with a mobile phone number they had used to contact him. When police visited Davies at a hotel in Carlisle, where he was residing at the time, he admitted to possessing a Nokia phone that he had failed to disclose, which was a direct violation of his sexual harm prevention order. Further investigation revealed that Davies had set up accounts on social media platforms such as YouTube and TikTok without informing authorities.

Prosecutor Rogerson explained that Davies was aware of the restrictions imposed by his court order but had grown tired of waiting for the probation service to return his monitored mobile device. As a result, he purchased the Nokia phone, which he used to maintain contact with others online. This act of defiance demonstrated a clear breach of the legal restrictions designed to protect the community.

Following a detailed review of the evidence, Judge Michael Fanning sentenced Davies to two years in prison. The court found that the offenses occurred between mid-October and mid-December of the previous year, during which time Davies had deliberately circumvented the restrictions placed upon him. The case underscores the ongoing challenges faced by authorities in monitoring and managing individuals with a history of sexual offenses, especially when they attempt to evade detection and continue harmful behaviors despite legal prohibitions.