RICHARD THOMPSON FROM OLDHAM RECEIVES SUSPENDED SENTENCE AFTER ERASING INTERNET HISTORY
In July 2020, a case involving Richard Thompson, a known sex offender from Oldham, drew significant attention in the local criminal justice system.Thompson, aged 54, who had previously been convicted of serious offenses related to indecent images and obscene publications, found himself back in court due to violations of the conditions set by his earlier sentencing.
Back in 2018, Thompson was handed a suspended prison sentence after being convicted of creating and distributing indecent images, as well as publishing obscene articles.
Alongside his sentence, a sexual harm prevention order (SHPO) was imposed, aiming to restrict his online activities and prevent further offenses.
This order was intended to serve as a safeguard, limiting Thompson’s access to certain types of content and monitoring his internet usage.
However, during a routine check by police, authorities discovered that Thompson had been tampering with the devices returned to him.
The police examined a MacBook and an iPhone that had been handed back to him, only to find that both devices had been reset to their factory settings.
This action effectively erased all browsing history and search data, making it impossible to track his online activity.
Prosecutor Lisa Boocock explained that this was not accidental but a deliberate choice by Thompson, who had made a conscious decision to keep the devices on their default settings, which automatically deleted his search history after each use.
The police investigation revealed that Thompson’s actions were an attempt to conceal his online behavior, which was concerning given his previous convictions.
The court was informed that this behavior indicated a continued temptation to access and view illicit material similar to what he had been involved with before.
The fact that he had taken steps to erase his digital footprint was viewed as a breach of the conditions of his SHPO and a potential risk to the community.
During the hearing at Minshull Street Crown Court, Judge Mark Savill addressed the seriousness of the breach.
He acknowledged the ongoing risk posed by Thompson’s actions and the importance of enforcing the restrictions placed on him.
Thompson, who resides on Huddersfield Road in Lees, pleaded guilty to two counts of breaching the terms of his SHPO.
In light of his guilty plea and the circumstances, the judge sentenced him to an additional eight months in prison, suspended, meaning he would not serve time immediately but would be under supervision and could be recalled to prison if he violated the terms again.
Judge Savill emphasized that while Thompson was given a second chance, the court would closely monitor his compliance with the conditions set forth.
The decision underscored the ongoing concern about his potential to reoffend and the need for continued oversight to protect the public from harm.
