MALCOLM MORTIMER SHOCKING CHILD SEX OFFENDER ARREST IN HARTLEPOOL AND BILLINGHAM
In June 2020, Malcolm Mortimer, a 66-year-old resident of Hartlepool, found himself at the center of a serious criminal investigation involving breaches of court orders related to his past convictions for child sexual offenses.The incident unfolded when police officers visited Mortimer's home in Hartlepool as part of ongoing monitoring by a specialized team responsible for overseeing sex offenders' compliance with restrictions on electronic device usage.
During the visit, law enforcement officials discovered a laptop computer in Mortimer's residence that revealed troubling evidence: he had been using an alias on the internet, which was a clear violation of the conditions set by the court.
The court was informed that Mortimer had also acquired a new bank card that he had failed to declare, further breaching his legal obligations.
Prosecutor Rachel Masters explained that Mortimer had been assessed as a low-risk offender prior to this visit, but his actions indicated a disregard for the restrictions imposed upon him.
Mortimer maintained that he had no intention of circumventing any court orders, claiming that the use of an alias was not meant to evade restrictions.
The police also found a game installed on his laptop, which had been present since his original arrest, and was still on the device when it was returned to him.
He stated that the new bank card was given to him, implying that he was unaware of the breach.
Malcolm Mortimer, of Trident Close in Hartlepool, pleaded guilty to breaching a Sexual Harm Prevention Order by using an alias online.
He also admitted to failing to comply with notification requirements by not registering a new bank account.
The court heard that the laptop was seized during his initial arrest and contained the game, which was still present when the device was returned.
Judge Howard Crowson addressed Mortimer directly, emphasizing that most breaches of Sexual Harm Prevention Orders are attempts by offenders to avoid their legal obligations.
He acknowledged that the game was already on the computer and suggested that Mortimer assumed the police had seen it.
The judge also noted that Mortimer had been cooperative, describing the breaches as oversights rather than deliberate attempts to obstruct law enforcement.
As a result, Mortimer was sentenced to a 12-month conditional discharge and ordered to pay a community charge of £21.
The judge warned that if Mortimer committed further violations within the next year, he would face more severe sentencing.
However, Judge Crowson expressed hope that no additional breaches would occur, indicating confidence in Mortimer's potential to comply moving forward.
It is important to note that this incident is part of a broader criminal history for Mortimer.
In March 2017, he was convicted of downloading and distributing nearly 3,000 illegal images of children, including some at the most severe level of abuse.
The images depicted toddlers, children aged between four and nine, and even a four to five-month-old baby.
Authorities seized multiple devices from his home on St Aidan’s Crescent, Billingham, which contained these images and explicit discussions with other paedophiles about acts against children.
Mortimer, who was then living in Billingham, admitted to three charges of making indecent images and one of distributing them.
He also possessed prohibited images and extreme pornographic material.
His criminal record dates back to 1973, when he was convicted of indecent assault and gross indecency involving a girl under 14.
During the court proceedings, his defense argued that Mortimer had been in the dock for the first time in four decades.
They described the distribution of images as a short-lived activity involving only two online acquaintances in 2009, where images were exchanged but not widely circulated.
The defense also highlighted that Mortimer’s actions stemmed from his profound isolation following the death of his wife in 2008, which led him to misuse the internet as a means of coping.
His lawyer emphasized that Mortimer expressed remorse for his actions and suggested that a community-based treatment program would be more effective than imprisonment.
Despite these arguments, Judge Peter Armstrong found the distribution of such images to be particularly serious.
He sentenced Mortimer to 16 months in prison and imposed a Sexual Harm Prevention Order, which restricts his internet use and storage media, along with a 10-year registration on the sex offenders’ register.
Overall, the case underscores the ongoing risks posed by individuals with a history of sexual offenses and highlights the importance of strict monitoring and legal consequences for breaches of court orders and possession of illegal material.
