KEVIN HOLMES FROM CARLISLE AND WORKINGTON SENTENCED FOR INTERNET BREACHES UNDER SEXUAL OFFENCES ORDER

In October 2015, Kevin Holmes, a man with a troubling history linked to child abuse images, faced legal consequences once again at Carlisle Crown Court. Holmes, aged 29 and residing at Chestnut Hill, Morton, Carlisle, was sentenced to 12 months in prison for breaching a court-imposed order designed to prevent him from accessing the internet. Although the sentence was suspended, the case highlighted ongoing concerns about Holmes's compliance with court restrictions.

Holmes had been subjected to a strict Sexual Offences Prevention Order (SOPO) since 2005, following his conviction for possessing indecent images of children. The order explicitly prohibited him from using the internet unless it was strictly for work-related purposes. Despite these restrictions, Holmes was found to have used a mobile phone to browse the web during his leisure time. While he did not access illegal content, he did download images depicting young males in swimwear, which raised alarm among authorities.

The court proceedings revealed that Holmes’s online activity was monitored, and his breach was uncovered when authorities traced his use of a mobile device. Judge Paul Batty QC presided over the case and, while he acknowledged Holmes’s progress in other areas of his court order, he decided to impose a 12-month prison sentence, which was suspended. The judge emphasized that Holmes had shown some compliance but had nonetheless violated the terms of his order.

Holmes’s criminal history is extensive, with previous convictions dating back to 2005. In that year, he admitted to downloading abusive images of children. His criminal record was further compounded in 2011 when he received a 39-month sentence for similar offences, of which he served half before being released on licence in December 2012. His release was under strict conditions, including the ban on using electronic devices capable of internet access.

However, Holmes’s violations persisted. In December 2013, he was returned to prison after a woman reported seeing his Facebook page being updated. The woman, who recognized Holmes under the alias Joseph Scott, contacted police after confirming his identity through a phone conversation. During her interaction with Holmes, he dismissed concerns about his internet use, stating he did not care about the restrictions. Holmes’s arrest followed, and he admitted to police that his actions were “stupid.”

At the time of his latest breach, Holmes was living in a homeless shelter at the Bowling Green hostel in Carlisle, having previously resided in Hartington Street, Workington. His repeated violations of the court orders led to his guilty plea for breaching the SOPO, which had been initially imposed in 2005 and renewed in 2011. The court noted the seriousness of his offences and the pattern of non-compliance.

During the hearing, Holmes’s defense attorney, Alan Lovett, explained that Holmes had purchased his mobile phone solely for sending text messages. However, Holmes succumbed to temptation and accessed Facebook, which was a breach of his court order. Lovett acknowledged that Holmes’s actions were ill-judged and that he had not fully grasped the gravity of his violations. The court was informed that Holmes would not be released until July of the following year, as he was to complete the suspended sentence.

Judge Peter Hughes QC described the case as having “a worrying background,” reflecting the ongoing concerns about Holmes’s conduct. The court adjourned the proceedings to a future date to gather further information regarding Holmes’s situation and to determine appropriate measures moving forward.