JOSEPH RYAN FROM TUEBROOK ESCAPES PRISON DESPITE BREACHING SEXUAL OFFENSE ORDERS IN LIVERPOOL

In a case that has raised concerns about the management and monitoring of high-risk sex offenders, Joseph Ryan, a 56-year-old resident of Green Lane, Tuebrook, has narrowly avoided a prison sentence despite multiple breaches of his Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO).

Ryan’s criminal history is extensive, including convictions for sexual assault against young children and possession of indecent images. His current case highlights ongoing issues with compliance and the challenges faced by law enforcement in monitoring offenders who are deemed high risk.

On May 14 of the previous year, a female police officer visited Ryan’s home in Tuebrook as part of routine checks related to his SHPO. The order explicitly prohibits him from deleting internet history on any of his electronic devices. During the visit, Ryan was evasive and refused to provide the correct PIN for his HTC mobile phone. When pressed further, he admitted to deleting his internet history, which is a direct breach of the court-mandated restrictions.

According to court reports, Ryan justified his actions by claiming that his phone was running slowly, a reason that did not sit well with the officers. The police officer described Ryan as being “evasive,” and when asked for his PIN, he initially provided a six-digit code that was incorrect. Despite multiple attempts, Ryan was unable or unwilling to give the correct code, claiming that his phone was encrypted and required two separate codes to access.

Further complicating the investigation, a Salvation Army staff member contacted the police, revealing that Ryan had discussed the consequences of entering wrong codes, which could wipe the SIM card and delete all data on the device. Police experts later confirmed that they were unable to access the phone’s contents, leaving the court without concrete evidence of what was stored on the device.

Ryan’s breaches of the SHPO were not isolated incidents. He was observed again on July 15, displaying hostility, obstructiveness, and evasiveness when approached by officers. However, by November 20, there was a noticeable change in his behavior. Ryan cooperated more, handing over a basic Nokia phone without internet access, which was seen as a positive step towards reducing his risk of offending.

Despite these developments, the court acknowledged that Ryan remains a high risk. His history includes a 2011 conviction for nine counts of sexual assault against children under 13, resulting in a seven-year prison sentence. He was also incarcerated in 2016 for two and a half years for downloading indecent images.

Judge McKone addressed Ryan directly, stating, “On two occasions you deliberately tried to prevent the police from checking your phone and the only assumption the court can come to is that was because there were things on that phone that you did not want the police to see.”

Nevertheless, the judge recognized some progress in Ryan’s attitude, noting that he was less hostile and evasive during recent interactions. She also considered a detailed pre-sentence report, which indicated that Ryan admits to having a sexual attraction to children and expressed a willingness to work with probation services to prevent future offending.

In light of these factors, Judge McKone decided that the best way to protect the public, especially children, was to enroll Ryan in an accredited rehabilitation course. Consequently, she sentenced him to 15 months in prison, suspended for two years. Additionally, Ryan was ordered to complete the 60-hour Horizon programme and perform 150 hours of unpaid community work, aiming to facilitate his rehabilitation and reduce the risk of reoffending.