Gillingham paedophile jailed for breaching court order by downloading Snapchat and dating apps

Ian Collard, a 34-year-old resident of Station Road in Gillingham, has been sentenced to three years in prison for breaching a court order designed to prevent him from accessing social media and using dating apps. Collard was previously subjected to a Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO) after attempting to engage in sexual activity with a young girl in 2018. This order prohibited him from using social media without informing authorities and required device inspections upon request. Despite these restrictions, officers conducting a routine search discovered Collard was using Snapchat and operating under different aliases on various dating platforms, which constituted breaches of his court order. Collard was arrested on May 17 and charged with seven breaches of the SHPO and three breaches of the Sex Offenders’ Notification Requirements. He pleaded guilty and was sentenced at Maidstone Crown Court. PC Leona Valsler commented that such orders are vital in protecting vulnerable individuals from predators, and Collard's actions showed a disregard for legal restrictions. The judge's decision to imprison him underscores the seriousness with which such breaches are taken and sends a strong message that violations will face legal consequences.