NEIL JOHNSON FROM STOCKTON AND HARTLEPOOL JAILED FOR REPEATED SEX OFFENCES AND BREACHES OF COURT ORDERS
In a series of disturbing incidents spanning several years, Neil Johnson, a man with a troubling history of sexual offences involving minors, has been repeatedly found in breach of court-imposed restrictions designed to prevent further offending.His latest incarceration follows a pattern of violations that highlight ongoing concerns about his behavior and the risks he poses to the community.
Johnson, aged 38, from Hartlepool, was subjected to a stringent 10-year Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO) after he was convicted in May 2019 for possessing indecent images of children.
This court order was intended to impose strict conditions on his use of electronic devices and internet access, with regular police checks to ensure compliance.
Despite these measures, Johnson demonstrated a persistent attraction to children and repeatedly violated the terms of his order, accumulating six breaches over time.
In June of the previous year, police officers visited Johnson’s residence in Hartlepool to examine a new laptop he had purchased.
During this inspection, authorities uncovered a disturbing collection of homemade DVDs containing images of naked or partially naked children.
Further examination of the laptop revealed 53 images that directly contravened the conditions of his SHPO.
It was also discovered that Johnson had set up two separate accounts on his computer to conceal his activities from family members.
Additionally, he failed to disclose the existence of a USB memory device and admitted to deleting parts of his internet history, especially searches containing the word “kids.” Johnson’s breaches did not stop there.
While on police and court bail, he continued to flout the restrictions by deleting internet history from his Xbox gaming console and creating a linked email account under a false name in April of this year.
These actions demonstrated a clear pattern of deliberate attempts to hide his online activities.
The court heard that Johnson’s ongoing attraction to children was a significant concern, and his repeated violations underscored the seriousness of his case.
Judge James Brown, presiding over the case, sentenced Johnson to 20 months in prison, emphasizing the gravity of his offenses.
He stated, “Sadly, this collection of offences is so serious that only an immediate term of custody can be imposed.” The judge’s decision reflected the need to protect the public from Johnson’s continued offending and to serve as a deterrent to others.
Earlier, in May 2019, Johnson’s troubling behavior was highlighted when he was again brought before a court for breaching his SHPO.
At that time, police found images on his laptop depicting children as young as six years old.
Johnson, who openly admits to having an unhealthy interest in young girls, was at his home in Hartlepool when officers conducted a search.
He appeared via video link from Durham Prison’s vulnerable prisoners wing, known as F Wing, to face multiple charges including breaching his SHPO, making indecent images of children, and possessing prohibited images.
Prosecutor Chris Wood detailed the findings, revealing that emails sent by Johnson to himself contained images of females aged between six and twelve, often dressed provocatively.
Johnson admitted to viewing these images and deleting his web history to conceal his activities.
The DVD found at his residence contained 159 images, predominantly of young females dressed provocatively, with some images of girls aged between six and eight, and a few of girls aged 12 to 14.
Among these were two images classified as category B, five as category C, and two prohibited images, including a cartoon of a child overlaid on an adult’s knee.
Johnson’s criminal record includes previous convictions for breaching orders, with the last breach occurring in April 2017, for which he received a suspended sentence.
Judge Peter Armstrong, sentencing him, acknowledged that Johnson’s breaches could be attributed to his condition but emphasized the need for ongoing intervention.
Johnson was sentenced to 20 months in prison, suspended for two years, and ordered to complete 30 rehabilitation days.
Additionally, he was issued a new 10-year SHPO to further restrict his activities.
The disturbing pattern of Johnson’s offenses extends back to 2017 when he, then aged 33 and residing on Londonderry Road in Stockton’s Newtown area, admitted to making indecent images of children between August and October 2015.
He was also charged with breaching his previous sexual harm prevention order by deleting internet history, which he was prohibited from doing.
Johnson pleaded guilty to these charges and was granted conditional bail pending sentencing at Teesside Crown Court.
Throughout these incidents, Johnson’s actions have raised serious concerns about his ongoing risk to minors.
His repeated breaches of court orders and possession of illicit images underscore the importance of vigilant law enforcement and judicial oversight to protect vulnerable members of the community in Hartlepool, Stockton, and beyond.
