LAURENCE SPRAGGATT FROM SOUTH WOODHAM FERRERS JAILED FOR SEX OFFENDER BREACH IN ESSEX

In August 2022, Laurence Spraggett, a 45-year-old resident of South Woodham Ferrers, faced justice in Colchester Magistrates’ Court after a series of violations related to a court-imposed order designed to protect minors. The court heard that Spraggett had been subject to a sexual harm prevention order, which explicitly prohibited him from making contact with children under the age of 16. Despite this, he deliberately breached the restrictions by using social media platforms to reach out to an underage girl, an act that led to his subsequent imprisonment.

Spraggett appeared before District Judge Andrew King on Tuesday, August 16, to answer charges of breaching the court order. The order itself was originally issued on November 27, 2019, by Chelmsford Magistrates’ Court, aiming to prevent him from engaging with minors in any form. The defendant pleaded guilty to two charges: first, for contacting the underage girl via social media on January 19, despite the court’s restrictions, and second, for failing to notify Essex Police that he was operating a social media account under an alias, which was also prohibited under the terms of his order.

During the hearing, the prosecution, led by Hazel Sunshine, emphasized that the order was clear and unambiguous in forbidding any contact with individuals under 16. She pointed out that Spraggett had not only violated this directive but also neglected his legal obligation to inform authorities about his social media activity. The court was told that Spraggett had previously expressed remorse for his actions, claiming that contacting the minor was a significant mistake and that he regretted his conduct.

In sentencing, District Judge Andrew King acknowledged the guilty pleas, which resulted in a reduction of the initial sentence from 36 weeks to 24 weeks for the breach of the order, and from 26 weeks to 12 weeks for failing to notify police about his social media account. The sentences are to be served consecutively, meaning one after the other. Additionally, Spraggett was ordered to pay a government surcharge of £128, which was due by February 14, 2023.

Defence solicitor Roger Bryce argued that a custodial sentence could jeopardize Spraggett’s employment at a local bank, which he believed was crucial for his rehabilitation. However, the judge emphasized the seriousness of the offences, stating, “What you were required to do was simple and straightforward and not difficult to understand.” Despite the mitigating factors, the court upheld the view that imprisonment was appropriate given the gravity of the breach and the potential risk posed to minors by such conduct.