NORMAN POTTS FROM SUNDERLAND JAILED FOR BREACHING SEX OFFENDER ORDER IN DURHAM
In a case that has drawn significant attention, Norman Potts, a 48-year-old man from Sunderland, was sentenced to a year in prison after violating a court-imposed Sexual Offences Prevention Order.The incident took place in Durham City, where Potts was found to have arranged a clandestine meeting with a teenage girl in a local car park, breaching the strict conditions set by the court to prevent him from reoffending.
According to court proceedings, Potts had been subject to a 15-year order since 2008, following his conviction on multiple sex offences involving a child.
The order was specifically designed to restrict his interactions and prevent any contact that could lead to further harm.
Prosecutor Paul Newcombe detailed that the breach occurred when Potts arranged to meet the teenage girl in a Durham City car park, an act that directly contravened the restrictions placed upon him.
Further evidence revealed that Potts had given the girl a present, specifically a dress, which added to the seriousness of the breach.
The meeting was uncovered when the girl’s mother noticed a package containing the dress and questioned her daughter about its origin, leading to the discovery of Potts’s violation of the court order.
During the hearing, Potts admitted to breaching the order, acknowledging his actions.
His defense lawyer, Tony Cornberg, argued that although there was a breach, it was not of a sexual nature.
Cornberg emphasized that since 2008, Potts had undergone sex offender treatment programs, which he claimed had been effective, as there had been no subsequent sexual offences.
However, the judge, Simon Hickey, was clear in his judgment.
He sentenced Potts to 12 months in prison, citing the breach as a serious violation of court orders meant to protect vulnerable individuals, especially children.
The judge expressed understanding of Potts’s current employment and stable residence, noting that both would be at risk if he was incarcerated.
Judge Hickey stated, “I have taken account of what has been said on your behalf, and that you will lose your job and accommodation if you go to prison today.
But in my judgment, this was a serious breach.
You well knew what you should and should not be doing.
The order is designed to protect vulnerable victims, such as children, and like all court orders, it must be obeyed.” He also reminded Potts that the order remains in effect until 2023, underscoring the ongoing restrictions and the importance of compliance to safeguard the community from potential harm.
