LIAM CROSS FROM BANBURY ESCAPES JAIL AFTER MULTIPLE BREACHES OF COURT ORDER

In June 2019, Liam Cross, a resident of Leighsanne Court on Mewburn Road in Banbury, was involved in a case that highlighted ongoing issues related to his previous criminal conduct and breaches of court-imposed restrictions. Cross, who was convicted of a serious offence involving a request for explicit images from a 12-year-old, had been subject to a five-year sexual harm prevention order issued in 2015. This order was designed to restrict his online activities and prevent further offending, and it included specific provisions such as prohibiting him from deleting his internet browsing history.

Despite the clear restrictions, Cross repeatedly violated the terms of the order. The latest breach occurred in July of the previous year when he deleted the Instagram application from a Kindle device. This action was considered a breach because deleting the app also resulted in the removal of images and chat history, which was against the court’s restrictions. The court was informed that Cross admitted to deleting the app because he found the temptation of using Instagram online to be overwhelming.

Prior to this incident, Cross had already demonstrated a pattern of disregarding the court’s directives. On one occasion, he purchased an iPhone without informing the authorities, which was a breach of the order. On another occasion, he was cautioned for deleting his internet browsing history, further illustrating his ongoing attempts to circumvent restrictions placed upon him.

During the hearing, prosecutor Matthew Knight emphasized that the latest breach was not an isolated incident but part of a series of violations. Cross pleaded guilty to the charge of breaching the court order by deleting his internet history.

Judge Ian Pringle QC addressed the court, stating that the offence was at the 'bottom end' of the spectrum of offending severity. Recognizing the circumstances, the judge decided against imposing a custodial sentence. Instead, Cross was sentenced to a community order for three years. This order includes a requirement to participate in 15 days of rehabilitation activities and involvement in the Horizon programme, which is aimed at addressing and reducing offending behavior. Additionally, Cross was ordered to pay a victim surcharge as part of his sentence.

This case underscores the challenges faced by the justice system in enforcing court orders and the importance of monitoring offenders to prevent further harm, especially in cases involving vulnerable victims and online misconduct. The decision to impose a community order reflects a focus on rehabilitation while acknowledging the seriousness of the breaches committed by Liam Cross in Banbury.