MARTIN TAVENER AND BREACH OF COURT ORDER IN MAESTEG

Martin Tavener, a 32-year-old resident of Maesteg, has found himself back in trouble with the law after violating a court-imposed order designed to protect children from potential harm. The breach occurred amidst police investigations into an unrelated assault, during which a 16-year-old boy was discovered inside Tavener's residence.

The incident unfolded on June 18 when police officers responded to reports of violence and fighting at Station Hill, the area where Tavener lives. Upon arrival, officers approached Tavener's home and knocked on the door. A 16-year-old boy answered, and police observed Tavener at the top of the stairs within the premises. Recognizing the need to verify Tavener's identity and legal status, officers detained him and conducted a routine check.

It was during this check that authorities confirmed Tavener was subject to a Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO). This order had been issued in 2020 following Tavener's prior conviction for possessing indecent images of a child under 18. Additionally, Tavener had a lengthy criminal history, including a 2008 conviction for attempted rape, which resulted in a prison sentence of three years and 164 days. As part of his sentence, he was placed under indefinite sex offender notification requirements. The SHPO explicitly prohibited him from having contact with children under the age of 18.

During police interviews, Tavener admitted that he had allowed the 16-year-old boy into his flat and that they had spent time together listening to music. This admission constituted a breach of the court order, which was designed to prevent him from engaging in such contact with minors. Tavener later pleaded guilty to breaching the terms of the SHPO.

The prosecution, led by Gareth James, highlighted that Tavener had previously violated the same order in 2020 when he was found in the company of 17-year-olds in a graveyard. For that breach, he was sentenced to 24 weeks in prison. The current breach was considered serious, given the nature of the order and Tavener's criminal history.

In his defense, lawyer Adam Sharp explained that there had been an altercation outside Tavener's home involving the youth, during which both suffered injuries. He stated that Tavener had offered the boy refuge in his flat before the boy's mother arrived. Sharp also emphasized Tavener's traumatic childhood and noted that he has been registered as unfit to work since 2010.

The sentencing hearing took place at Cardiff Crown Court, where Judge Tracey Lloyd-Clarke addressed Tavener's actions. The judge criticized Tavener for deliberately choosing to ignore the restrictions imposed by the SHPO, despite being fully aware of its terms. She pointed out that Tavener had previously denied being a sex offender and claimed he posed no risk to children, yet he knowingly breached the order.

Ultimately, Tavener was sentenced to one year in prison. The court ordered that he serve half of this sentence in custody, with the remaining time to be served on license. The case underscores the ongoing challenges faced by authorities in monitoring and enforcing court orders intended to safeguard minors from individuals with a history of sexual offenses.