JEFFREY TOUT FROM CHIPPERFIELD SENTENCED AFTER BREACHING ORDER INVOLVING EXTREME IMAGES IN ST ALBANS

In a case that has drawn significant attention at St Albans Crown Court, Jeffrey Tout, a 42-year-old resident of Chipperfield, faced serious legal consequences after being found guilty of breaching a court order related to his online activities. The incident dates back to March 2016 when Tout was convicted and subsequently ordered not to erase his internet browsing history as part of his sentence for possessing illegal images of children.

Despite this clear directive, investigations revealed that Tout had deliberately deleted his browsing history in June 2017, during a routine examination of his Lenovo computer. This act of deleting the history was considered a breach of the Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO) that had been imposed on him. The court also uncovered that an extremely graphic image depicting a woman engaging in sexual activity with a dog was stored on his device, raising further concerns about his online conduct.

Prosecutor Douglas Page detailed to the court that Tout claimed he had only deleted his browsing history out of embarrassment, fearing that his visits to adult dating sites might be exposed. He explained that the extreme pornographic image had been sent to Tout via WhatsApp by a friend and that Tout believed he had deleted it from his phone, not realizing it had been saved on his computer.

During the proceedings, Mr. Page emphasized that police investigations into Tout’s computer did not reveal any evidence contradicting his account. “It can’t be said there is anything illegal that he has viewed,” he stated, suggesting that while Tout had breached the order, there was no evidence of ongoing illegal activity at the time of the investigation.

Tout, who resides on Bulstrode Lane in Chipperfield near Kings Langley, appeared in court to face sentencing after pleading guilty to breaching the Sexual Harm Prevention Order and possessing one image of extreme pornography. The court heard that his actions had brought him dangerously close to imprisonment.

Judge Michael Kay QC addressed Tout directly, indicating that he was inclined to suspend the sentence rather than impose immediate jail time. “I am just persuaded I can suspend the sentence. You have come very, very close to going to prison,” he remarked.

As a result, Tout was sentenced to 24 weeks in jail, suspended for two years. The judge also imposed a three-month electronic curfew from 8 pm to 5 am, requiring him to stay at home during those hours. Additionally, Tout must participate in 20 days of a rehabilitation activity program and pay costs of £500 within 28 days. The judge issued a stern warning, stating, “I cannot imagine a court would give you another chance,” underscoring the seriousness of his violations and the potential consequences if he breaches the conditions again.