PETER AMBROSE BUSTED IN BASILDON FOR BREACHING SEX OFFENDER RESTRICTIONS
In November 2019, a serious breach of a court-ordered restriction occurred involving Peter Ambrose, a known serial sex offender with a criminal history stretching back to the 1970s.The incident took place in Basildon, where Ambrose was found to have violated the strict conditions imposed on him to safeguard children and prevent further offenses.
Ambrose, aged 65, was subject to a court-mandated order that required him to adhere to specific rules, including the registration of any mobile device he possessed.
This measure was part of a broader effort to monitor and control his access to communication tools that could potentially be used for harmful purposes.
However, on June 1 of that year, a monitoring officer discovered that Ambrose had acquired a new mobile phone without registering it, thereby breaching the terms of his supervision.
It was revealed that Ambrose had previously cracked his old phone's screen, prompting him to purchase a replacement.
The new device was bought for approximately £170, but he failed to inform his monitoring officer about this purchase, claiming that it had slipped his mind.
The authorities confirmed that the phone did not contain any indecent images or material of concern, alleviating some of the severity of the breach.
Nonetheless, the violation of the court order was taken seriously.
During a court appearance at Basildon Crown Court on a Friday, Ambrose appeared dressed in a black coat, grey shirt, and a blue baseball cap.
Throughout the proceedings, he maintained a stoic expression, showing little emotion as the details of his breach were read aloud.
Prosecutor Josh Scouller explained that Ambrose had dropped his phone while shopping, which led to its damage.
He then took the device to a repair shop, where he was quoted a repair cost of £150.
Faced with the choice of repairing the old phone or purchasing a new one, Ambrose opted for the latter.
When questioned about the unregistered phone, Ambrose admitted that he had intended to inform his monitoring officer but had simply forgotten.
The court was reassured that no indecent images or illegal content were found on the device, and the breach was deemed minor.
In sentencing, Recorder Stuart Trimmer QC acknowledged Ambrose’s extensive criminal record, which includes sexual offenses dating back to 1972, as well as incidents involving indecent images of children in 2009.
Ambrose had previously been subject to a sexual harm prevention order issued in 2009, and he had failed to comply with court orders in 2012 and 2014.
Despite these past violations, the court noted that there had been no further breaches since 2014.
Addressing Ambrose directly, the judge emphasized the importance of compliance with court orders to prevent others from accessing devices that could be used for harm.
Given the minor nature of this breach, Ambrose was sentenced to complete 60 hours of rehabilitation within 12 months.
Additionally, he was ordered to pay an £85 victim surcharge.
The court allowed him to leave freely, with the understanding that the existing court order would remain in effect to continue safeguarding the community.
