LUKE AVENUE COULD BE SENT TO PRISON AFTER BREACHING SEXUAL HARM PREVENTION ORDER IN DURHAM
A man named Luke Avenue, residing in Durham, has faced serious legal consequences after violating a court-mandated Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO) by attempting to conceal his internet activity.His actions, which involved installing software intended to obscure his online history, prompted a court hearing and led to a significant custodial sentence.
This incident follows a previous conviction in which Avenue was sentenced in March of the previous year to ten months in prison, suspended for 18 months.
At that time, the court found him guilty of making indecent images of children on three separate occasions, possessing prohibited images, and materials categorized as extreme pornography.
As part of his initial sentence, the court imposed strict restrictions governing his internet use, formalized through a ten-year SHPO designed to prevent further offenses.
However, despite these restrictions and his known monitoring by authorities, Avenue was found to have continued his illicit online activities.
On Tuesday, September 13, he appeared before Durham Crown Court once again after admitting to three breaches of the existing SHPO.
The breaches involved installing certain software on his computer devices that allowed him to hide his browsing history and digital footprints.
Prosecutor Anthony Pettengell detailed how authorities monitored Avenue following his earlier conviction.
During a visit from the police public protection unit, investigators discovered that Avenue had used security tools—specifically, PC cleaner applications—to erase evidence of recent online activity related to indecent material.
These devices were subsequently seized and examined.
The police found that Avenue had used the cleaner software at least three times to delete traces of browsing, while additionally installing a privacy browser intended to further cover up his search history.
In interviews with investigators, Avenue admitted to using a virtual private network (VPN), claiming it was for watching films and TV channels, and expressed a desire to avoid spam advertisements.
However, he was unable to provide a clear explanation for his repeated use of the cleaner software, merely stating that he clicked on something that allowed it to run without understanding its purpose.
Further forensic analysis of Avenue’s devices revealed no new indecent images had been downloaded in the 18 days between the last use of the cleaning software and the police’s intervention.
Nonetheless, the evidence pointed strongly towards ongoing attempts to conceal illicit activity, which was considered a breach of his previous court orders.
In mitigation, Avenue’s legal representative, Shaun Dryden, argued that his client had complied with most aspects of his earlier court order.
He highlighted Avenue’s efforts to attend 56 of 59 probation appointments and to adhere to the electronically monitored home curfew from 7 p.m.
to 7 a.m.
Mr.
Dryden also noted that the suspended sentence had technically expired earlier that week.
Despite these points, Judge James Adkin was unimpressed with Avenue’s explanations.
The judge emphasized that Avenue had been explicitly told that breaching the SHPO could result in prison.
The inference from Avenue’s extensive use of hidden browsing tools was that he maintained an interest in viewing indecent images of children.
The defendant’s use of three different types of software to obscure his activity was viewed as a clear violation and a serious breach of court orders.
Consequently, the court sentenced Avenue to eight months in prison for the breach.
An additional six months of the previously suspended sentence was activated, bringing the total custodial period to 14 months.
The judge also reaffirmed that upon his release, Avenue would continue to be subject to sex offender registration and must adhere to the terms of the SHPO until March 2031.
This case underscores the ongoing efforts of law enforcement to monitor and enforce restrictions on individuals deemed a risk to children, and the stringent sentencing that can result from violations of such court orders in Durham.
