PAEDOPHILE DUE TO BE RELEASED FROM PRISON NEXT WEEK ATTACKED
A Norfolk child sex offender who had gone missing has been found living with a woman and a six-year-old child in Kent, raising concerns about his compliance with sex offender registration and restrictions.Joshua Hodgkinson, 25, was due to be released from prison next week but was recalled to custody after police issued a public appeal in December 2024.
He appeared via video link from HMP Albany on the Isle of Wight at Norwich Magistrates’ Court on October 22, where he faced charges of breaching a sexual harm prevention order (SHPO) and failing to notify authorities of his change of address.
Hodgkinson is charged with two violations of his SHPO, which included setting up a Snapchat account without informing police and deleting his internet search history prior to his disappearance.
It is alleged that between December 13 and Christmas Day 2024, he failed to notify police that he was residing at Birchington Vale in Kent, where an under-18 individual was living, and did not update his address within the required three days.
These breaches are linked to his obligations under the sex offender register.
The court was told that Hodgkinson had been living with a woman and a six-year-old child in Kent, which raised further concerns given his history.
He did not enter any pleas to the charges during the hearing.
District Judge Matthew Bone ordered that his case be transferred to Norwich Crown Court for a future hearing scheduled for November 19.
Hodgkinson was kept in custody until his next court appearance, and his release, initially scheduled for October 23, was postponed pending the outcome of the proceedings.
Hodgkinson was involved in previous breaches related to his sex offender registration obligations, including creating a social networking account on Snapchat without informing police and deleting internet search history.
He was a known sex offender prior to his latest recall and faced multiple legal restrictions designed to monitor and control his activities.
His case continues to attract public and legal scrutiny as authorities seek to ensure compliance and protect potential victims.
