June 2022 Paedophile living in Carlisle flouted court order A convicted paedophile pensioner blamed being “alone at Christmas” and feeling depressed for his decision to flout a court order designed to protect children from his predatory nature.  Gerard Philip Wilson, 66, was meant to have his internet use strictly monitored after he was jailed for horrific child sex offences. But after he moved to Carlisle, the city’s crown court heard, a routine police check revealed that he had deleted internet history from his Lenovo computer and installed software designed to conceal what he did online. Both actions were a breach of a sexual harm prevention order which was imposed by Preston Crown Court in 2017. The defendant, who formerly lived in Ulverston, but was living in Carlisle at the time he committed the offences, pleaded guilty to both allegations. Prosecutor Brendan Burke said the offences came to light when police visited Wilson on January 6 this year following concern being raised about “suspicious internet activity.” “They inspected his Lenovo laptop and discovered that some of his browsing history had been deleted,” said the barrister.  This had happened between December 21 last year and January 6. They also discovered that he had installed software capable of permanently wiping data from the device. The court heard that Wilson had now been recalled to prison and was likely to stay there until the middle of 2024. Recorder Ian Unsworth QC noted that the defendant had been jailed by Preston Crown Court for six years for various child sex offences, including sexual activity with children, and the court’s sexual harm prevention order was in place indefinitely. “That order was meant to protect children,” said the judge, who noted the defendant’s “predatory and paedophile” tendencies. The judge observed that Wilson appeared to have learned little from his jail sentence and that he had also put children at risk. He had also challenged the authority of the court, which can not be tolerated, said the judge. Recorder Unsworth jailed Wilson for ten months. The judge told the defendant: “You have to understand that on your release this order is still in place and if you breach it again you will receive ever-longer sentences. “You must learn from this episode.” At the time of being jailed, Wilson’s address was given as Urswick Road, Ulverston. July 2020 Ulverston sex ‘predator’ faces new jail sentence A sexual predator is back behind bars after flouting a court order just days after being released from prison. Gerard Philip Wilson, 64, was given a six-year jail term in 2017 for a raft of online child sex crimes which emerged after he contacted an undercover police officer he believed was a youngster. When sentenced by a judge, Wilson – who also admitted making and distributing indecent images of children – was also ordered to sign the sex offenders’ register indefinitely and made subject to the strict terms of a sexual harm prevention order (SHPO). This banned him from having any internet-capable electronic device not fitted with police-approved monitoring software. But on Friday, just a week after his release from prison on licence and having been reminded of the SHPO requirements, Wilson, formerly of Ulverston, was back in hot water. Police offender managers went to his bail hostel in Carlisle. “They were made aware by staff the defendant had gone out on Thursday and purchased a laptop computer from Currys,” said prosecutor Tom Snape. Officers found the laptop out of a box and plugged in, and also a large flat-screen Smart television, both capable of online connection but neither fitted with monitoring software. Wilson told officers: “I thought I had done everything by the book.” When he appeared at North and West Cumbria Magistrates’ Court, Wilson admitted two SHPO breaches. He reported telling a probation officer about his purchases, and handing them to hostel staff with a view to software being fitted. But he asked for them back 20 minutes before police arrived. “He states he didn’t fully understand how much that would impact on him; that he would potentially end up in this situation this morning,” said Sara Budniak, in mitigation. “He understands he is looking, potentially, at another custodial sentence.” Magistrates sent the case to the city’s crown court, where Wilson, previously of Urswick Road, Ulverston, is due to be sentenced by a judge next month. In the meantime he was remanded in custody. After he was sentenced in 2017, a Cumbria police detective said: “Wilson is a predator who used online chatrooms and social media apps to engage, groom and sexually assault children.” August 2017 Ulverston child sex offender jailed An Ulverston man who targeted children online to engage in sexual activity has been jailed for 6 years. Gerard Philip Wilson, aged 61, of Urswick Road, Ulverston was sentenced today (21st August) at Preston Crown Court for the following offences: Two counts of attempt to engage in sexual activity in presence of a child Adult meeting a child following grooming Three counts of sexual activity with a child Cause / incite a child to engage in sexual activity Attempt to cause / incite a child to engage in sexual activity Attempt to cause a child to watch / look at an image of sexual activity Three counts of making indecent photograph / pseudo-photograph of a child Three counts of distributing an indecent photograph / pseudo-photograph of a child Wilson pleaded guilty to all offences at an earlier court appearance. Wilson has also been placed on the sexual offender register indefinitely and received an indefinite Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO). Wilson’s offending came to light after contacting an undercover police officer who he believed to be a child. He was subsequently arrested and the Constabulary’s Digital Media Investigation Unit conducted enquiries on devices belonging to Wilson which uncovered the scale of his offending between 2013 and 2017.