KIERON MEAD FROM HALIFAX SENTENCED TO 2.5 YEARS FOR BREACHING SEX OFFENDER RESTRICTIONS IN HALIFAX

Kieron Mead, a registered sex offender from Halifax, has been sentenced to two and a half years in prison after repeatedly violating a court-imposed order designed to restrict his online activities. The case was heard at Bradford Crown Court, where it was revealed that Mead, now 34 years old, had been subject to a five-year Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO) since June 2023. This order was issued following Mead’s conviction for attempting to engage in sexual communication with a minor, a serious offense that prompted authorities to impose strict restrictions on his internet use.

Despite the court’s directives, Mead was found to have accessed the internet just ten days after the SHPO was put into effect. During a routine police check in August 2023, officers discovered that Mead had been actively using multiple social media platforms, engaging in messaging and chat conversations. Notably, he had also been using a Harry Potter-themed application to communicate with others, which was also prohibited under the terms of his order. The police responded swiftly, arresting Mead on suspicion of breaching his SHPO, and seized several electronic devices, including an iPad, a Samsung mobile phone, and an Xbox console with an attached hard drive.

Further investigation revealed that Mead had a smartphone which he had failed to disclose during the initial search. This device contained Facebook activity under an account named “Kieron Meadonator Mead,” which had sent messages to a female contact just ten days after the SHPO was imposed. This was a clear violation of the restrictions, as he was explicitly prohibited from using Facebook. The police also found evidence that Mead had been using a device to communicate with others in breach of his order.

In a subsequent visit to Mead’s residence approximately a year later, officers asked him to hand over his electronic devices. He provided a Nokia non-smartphone and a laptop. The laptop contained numerous emails from a dating website and evidence that Mead had logged into his account there. When questioned about other devices, Mead denied possessing any additional equipment. However, when a notification sound was heard, he retrieved a Samsung tablet from under his bedcover, claiming it belonged to his mother. Her later confirmation that Mead was the sole user of the device proved otherwise. The tablet was found to have an active game running with a chat function, which was considered an unauthorized messaging platform. It also contained Snapchat, another application he was prohibited from using.

Mead was arrested again for breaching his SHPO, and both the laptop and tablet were seized. Despite these restrictions, Mead continued to violate the order in May and June 2024 by using various social media platforms under different aliases to chat with females. These interactions were not registered with police, constituting further breaches of his court order. During police interviews, Mead refused to answer questions, replying with “no comment” each time.

In mitigation, Mead’s legal representative, John Bottomley, explained that Mead, residing on Canterbury Crescent in Halifax, had experienced difficulties during his upbringing, including emotional development issues that made it easier for him to communicate with children than with adults. Bottomley described Mead’s ongoing offending as a “snowballing” problem, emphasizing the pattern of repeated breaches.

Judge Andrew Haslam KC, who presided over the case via video link from HMP Leeds, described Mead’s conduct as persistent and aggravating. He pointed out that Mead had purchased additional devices after police had seized his original smartphone in August of the previous year, indicating deliberate efforts to circumvent restrictions. The judge noted that Mead’s breaches occurred within days of the initial order and continued over a 12-month period, demonstrating a blatant disregard for the court’s directives.

Sentencing Mead to a total of two and a half years in prison, the judge stated that Mead would serve up to 40% of his sentence in custody, with the remainder potentially served on parole or supervised release, minus the time already spent on remand. The case underscores the ongoing challenges authorities face in monitoring and enforcing restrictions on convicted sex offenders, especially in the digital age where technology can be used to bypass legal safeguards.