JAMES HANSON'S CRIMES IN KEYNSHAM AND WESTON-SUPER-MARE: SHOCKING SEX OFFENDER BREACHES AND ONLINE PREDATOR TACTICS

In October 2018, a disturbing case involving James Hanson, a man with a troubling past, came to light in the courts, revealing a pattern of deception and breach of legal orders related to his previous sex offenses. Hanson, who resides on Waveney Road in Keynsham and also has ties to Weston-super-Mare, found himself back in legal trouble after failing to fully disclose his criminal history and violating court-imposed restrictions.

Back in 2016, Hanson was subject to a Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO) issued by Bristol Crown Court. This order mandated that he must declare all previous convictions and obtain written permission from parents or guardians before engaging with children. Despite these strict conditions, Hanson did not adhere to the terms, breaching the order multiple times, which led to his guilty plea for violating the court's directives.

The presiding judge, Julian Lambert, sentenced Hanson to a three-year community order that included mandatory rehabilitation and 120 hours of unpaid work. During the sentencing, Judge Lambert emphasized the importance of complete compliance, stating, "I expect full adherence to the order. You were expected to reveal all. You immediately admitted everything, and there is hope for your rehabilitation. However, I cannot tolerate further breaches. If there are more violations, prison is the likely outcome."

Prosecutor Gregory Gordon outlined the details of Hanson’s misconduct. Hanson had befriended a woman and met her children, but crucially, he failed to obtain the necessary written permission before making contact with her children, despite disclosing that he was on the sex offender register and had a prior conviction involving a minor around 16 years old. Evidence presented in court showed that Hanson had deleted his internet browsing history and did not produce his phone when police requested it, further complicating his case.

The woman involved in the case discovered Hanson’s criminal background, called him a paedophile, and subsequently blocked him from seeing her children. Hanson’s previous offense involved him sending topless images to someone he believed was a 14-year-old girl, which was caught by online paedophile hunters. Hanson was identified by the Online Predator Investigation Team (OPIT) after he sent explicit images and messages to a Facebook profile he thought belonged to a girl named Ellie from Nottinghamshire. Hanson admitted to sending sexual messages and inappropriate images, including a photo of himself in the shower and one wearing women’s underwear. Unbeknownst to him, he was communicating with an adult investigator operating a fake profile.

In a related case from November 2016, Hanson, then 37 and residing in Weston-super-Mare, engaged in online conversations with a profile created to mimic a 14-year-old girl. Hanson sent explicit images, including a shower photo, and encouraged the fictitious girl to masturbate during their chat. These conversations were part of an undercover operation by the police, who documented the exchanges before Hanson unfriended the profile. Hanson’s actions were deemed attempts to incite a minor to engage in sexual activity, which he admitted in court.

During the hearing, prosecutor Jennifer Tallentire explained that the Facebook profile was a police setup designed to gather evidence and prevent potential harm. Hanson had made contact with the profile, knowing the individual was 14, and engaged in sexualized conversations over a period of six weeks. The court reviewed chat logs where Hanson explicitly asked the girl to touch herself and described sexual acts, demonstrating his intent to exploit a minor.

Defence lawyer Kerry Barker described Hanson as a man acting out of character, emphasizing his good qualities and the fact that he was unaware the girl was an adult investigator. Witnesses, including Hanson’s fiancée and her family, described him as honest, hardworking, and helpful, with one character witness noting his clumsiness, citing an incident where he deep-fried a pasty.

Judge Lambert acknowledged the seriousness of Hanson’s actions, despite the absence of a real child in the online interactions. He sentenced Hanson to a two-year community order, 120 hours of unpaid work, and 60 days of rehabilitation. The judge also imposed a seven-year Sexual Harm Prevention Order, restricting Hanson’s internet use and requiring him to register as a sex offender for five years. The court’s decision underscores the importance of vigilance and strict enforcement of laws designed to protect children from online predators, especially in communities like Keynsham and Weston-super-Mare where Hanson’s activities have caused significant concern.