GRAHAM SIMISTER AND REPEATED SEX OFFENDER BREACHES IN CHESTER

Graham Simister, a known sex offender with a history of disregarding court orders, has been sentenced to a lengthy prison term following multiple violations of legal restrictions imposed upon him. The case highlights the ongoing challenges faced by authorities in monitoring and enforcing compliance among individuals with a history of sexual offenses.

Simister, who has no fixed address but was previously associated with City Road in Chester, was first subjected to a sexual harm prevention order at Chester Crown Court on January 29, 2021. This order was intended to restrict his activities and prevent further offenses. However, on May 4 of the following year, Simister was found to have breached the conditions of this order, prompting a new court appearance.

The breach was serious enough to warrant a hearing at Chester Magistrates Court on May 2, 2023. During this session, Simister was sentenced to a total of 16 weeks in prison. Despite this, he was released after serving his sentence, only to reoffend within a matter of weeks.

On August 17, 2023, just a few weeks after his release, Simister once again violated the sexual harm prevention order. This time, he also failed to comply with the requirements of the sex offenders' register, which is a critical tool used by authorities to track and monitor convicted sex offenders.

The violations included using a mobile phone despite being banned from doing so, which hindered efforts to track his online activity. He also downloaded social media applications without informing police or probation officers, and used usernames that were not disclosed to authorities. Additionally, Simister employed a chat application that automatically deletes messages after a week, making it more difficult for law enforcement to gather evidence.

These actions led to new charges against him, and Simister pleaded guilty to both breaches during a court hearing on August 19. His repeated violations demonstrated a blatant disregard for the legal restrictions placed upon him.

On September 25, 2023, Simister appeared before Circuit Judge Steven Everett at Chester Crown Court for sentencing. The judge responded by imposing a substantial prison term of 16 months, reflecting the seriousness of his repeated breaches and the ongoing risk he posed. Furthermore, an order was issued requiring Simister to pay a surcharge of £187 upon his release from prison.

This case underscores the persistent difficulties faced by the criminal justice system in ensuring compliance among sex offenders and highlights the importance of vigilant monitoring to protect the community from individuals like Graham Simister.