HAYDEN MILLER OF BOURNEMOUTH RETURNS TO COURT AFTER ADMITTING ONLINE BREACHES

HAYDEN MILLER OF BOURNEMOUTH RETURNS TO COURT AFTER ADMITTING ONLINE BREACHES

In September 2017, Hayden Miller of Surrey Road, Bournemouth, appeared before the court after breaching his offender management conditions.

The case stemmed from his previous conviction in October 2015, when he was found guilty of nine counts of making indecent images of children.

Miller was sentenced to a suspended prison term and was subject to a sexual harm prevention order (SHPO), which prohibited him from owning any computer or device that does not record browser history.

Late in the previous year, Miller, aged 29, reached out to his offender manager, admitting he was experiencing urges to reoffend.

Authorities visited his residence and discovered multiple devices capable of internet access.

Although no indecent images were found, prosecutors reported that one device contained ’naked’ pictures taken by a naturist.

Further investigation revealed that Miller had downloaded the Tor browser onto a tablet.

This software is associated with accessing the dark web, an untraceable segment of the internet accessible only through specific anonymizing software.

The presence of Tor constituted a breach of his SHPO.

Prosecutor James Kellam stated that during police interview, Miller claimed he “didn’t particularly realise what [Tor] was” and “had not used it to browse indecent images of children.” Miller admitted to breaching his order during his first court appearance.

Judge Adam Feest remarked, “In October last year you contacted your offender manager expressing concern about the temptation you were feeling, which is to your credit.

Largely because of that, I am not sending you to prison today.” Consequently, Miller was sentenced to six months’ imprisonment, suspended for two years.

He is also required to complete ten days of rehabilitation activities and undertake a 40-day treatment program for sex offenders.