RICHARD HEWITT FROM GREAT SUTTON: JUDGES LIFT INTERNET BAN IN ELLSERE PORT CRIME CASE

In a significant legal development, senior judges have partially overturned a comprehensive ban that previously restricted Richard Hewitt, a resident of Great Sutton near Ellesmere Port, from accessing the internet. The original restriction, which only permitted Hewitt to use computers at public libraries, was deemed overly broad and has now been modified to allow him controlled internet access under strict conditions.

Richard James Hewitt, aged 41, was convicted at Chester Crown Court in July of the previous year and sentenced to a total of three years and four months in prison. His convictions stemmed from serious allegations involving attempts to engage minors in sexual activities through online platforms. Hewitt pleaded guilty to attempting to cause a child to engage in sexual activity, possessing indecent images of children, and breaching a Sexual Offences Prevention Order (SOPO) that had been imposed on him in 2007.

The court heard that Hewitt had contacted young girls via Skype and various online chat rooms, where he solicited photographs and encouraged them to touch themselves. The authorities believed that one of the girls he contacted was an undercover police officer posing as a minor, which added gravity to his offenses. An explicit image of a young girl was discovered on his laptop, further evidencing his violations of the existing SOPO.

Hewitt’s criminal record was described as particularly troubling by the presiding judge, who noted his history of similar offenses. Between 2007 and 2016, Hewitt accumulated seven convictions related to making indecent images of children and sexual assault. His previous convictions included attempts to meet children following sexual grooming, which resulted in a two-year jail sentence in 2016.

In addition to his prison sentence, the court imposed an indefinite Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO) aimed at protecting the public from future offenses. This order initially banned Hewitt from owning, possessing, or using any devices capable of accessing the internet, except for use at public libraries. However, recent legal proceedings have led to the drafting of new terms that permit Hewitt to access the internet under specific conditions. These conditions require him to notify police of his online activities, make electronic devices available for inspection, and refrain from using software that conceals his internet search history.

These adjustments reflect a cautious approach by the judiciary, balancing the need for public safety with the possibility of monitored reintegration into society. The case underscores ongoing concerns about online safety and the management of offenders with a history of sexual crimes involving minors.