ROBERT CLAY SENTENCED IN WINSHILL FOR BREACHING SEX OFFENDER ORDERS
A convicted sex offender from Winshill, Robert Clay, 29, who was previously banned from accessing the internet without monitoring software, was found to be using an Xbox and a CB radio to access the web.Clay is under a sexual harm prevention order after possessing disturbing images of children.
During a police visit to his home, officers examined his Xbox and discovered a handheld CB radio beneath a blanket that was internet-enabled, along with a laptop and a tablet.
Clay, of Alexandra Road, has been jailed for possessing additional child abuse images.
Staffordshire Live reports that he was previously prohibited from having unmonitored internet-enabled devices and from deleting internet history.
Following his earlier imprisonment for possessing child images, Clay was recalled to prison just three months after his 2018 release for breaching the sexual harm prevention order.
He has now received an additional 32 months in jail after admitting to seven breaches of his 10-year order and three charges of creating 15 indecent images of children.
The court was informed that two key conditions of his sexual harm prevention order forbade him from accessing the internet without installed monitoring software and from deleting his browsing history.
Prosecutor Simon Rippon explained that Clay had initially contacted his police risk assessor in February 2020 to report a new phone he had bought, claiming he had given his old phone to an uncle and performed a factory reset, erasing all data.
However, during checks, authorities discovered he still had several social media accounts and had recently purchased an Xbox console connected to the internet, which contained a deleted message.
During a home visit, Clay showed his Xbox to the risk assessor for inspection, at which point officers found a handheld CB radio and a laptop and tablet— all internet-enabled devices hidden under a blanket.
Mr.
Rippon highlighted that these items were located by officers, not disclosed by Clay himself.
The laptop also had a hard drive cleaner installed and was used in private browsing mode.
In August 2020, Clay contacted his risk assessor again to report a new phone.
Examination revealed he used offensive language, including terms like 'nudist beach family'.
Clay was arrested, and during police interviews, he fully admitted to breaching the court orders and making the indecent images.
He also expressed a persistent sexual interest in children and admitted to deliberately circumventing the restrictions imposed by his court order.
Steve Hennessy, defending Clay, told the court that his client had pleaded guilty at the first opportunity and had been very candid in his admissions.
Hennessy acknowledged: 'He has demonstrated that he is capable of taking steps to avoid breaching his sexual harm prevention order, but since his conduct he has been extremely frank and has provided information, without which there would be no history.
When the game is up he is candid, honest and straightforward.' Judge Graeme Smith remarked that Clay had been open about his ongoing sexual interests but had exhibited risky behavior through multiple breaches, starting soon after his release from prison.
The judge emphasized that while there was no evidence of further offenses, the fact that Clay deleted his internet history prevented a full understanding of his activities.
Sentencing, Clay received 32 months in prison, and his sexual harm prevention order was made indefinite, reflecting the serious ongoing risk he poses to children.
