ROLAND MITCHELL'S SHOCKING CRIMES IN NEWCASTLE: CHILD SEX OFFENDER HID DEVICES IN HIS HOME
A convicted child sex offender, Roland Mitchell, has been sentenced to prison after authorities uncovered a stash of digital devices hidden within his residence in Newcastle.The 74-year-old, who has a long history of sexual offenses against minors, was found to be in breach of a court-imposed Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO) by concealing multiple mobile phones and other electronic gadgets.
Mitchell’s criminal past dates back several decades, with convictions for indecent assault on young girls in the 1980s and 1990s.
His previous convictions include a case of gross indecency from 1964, an indecent assault on a female under 14 in 1980, and similar offenses in 1983.
He was also incarcerated again in 1998 for indecent assault.
Despite his lengthy criminal record, Mitchell was subjected to strict conditions under the SHPO, which was imposed in 2016 after he was caught possessing indecent images of children.
The order mandated that he must inform police of any digital devices capable of accessing the internet or storing images or videos.
On November 30 of the previous year, a routine police visit to Mitchell’s home on Cambridge Street, Elswick, Newcastle, led to the discovery of suspicious activity.
During the visit, an officer observed that Mitchell’s regular mobile phone had an unusually limited internet browsing history.
This raised suspicions, prompting further investigation.
The police subsequently conducted a thorough search of the property, which revealed a disturbing collection of electronic devices: three additional mobile phones, a laptop, a tablet, a USB drive, a hard drive, and three camcorders.
Additionally, a Barclays bank card and a passport were found, both of which Mitchell was also required to report under the terms of his SHPO.
During police interviews, Mitchell claimed to have forgotten about the digital devices, although he could not explain the presence of the three mobile phones.
Prosecutor Rachael Glover explained that Mitchell had handed over a mobile phone during the visit, but the device’s minimal internet activity suggested he might have deliberately deleted browsing history to conceal his activities.
The subsequent search confirmed that Mitchell had been hiding multiple devices, which he failed to disclose as required by law.
Mitchell pleaded guilty to five counts of breaching the Sexual Harm Prevention Order and two counts of failing to comply with the notification requirements of the sex offenders register.
In light of his violations, Newcastle Crown Court sentenced him to 10 months in prison.
Judge Penny Moreland emphasized the deliberate nature of Mitchell’s breaches, stating, “They were deliberate breaches and I’m satisfied it couldn’t be anything other than deliberate to possess that number of devices.” Mitchell’s case underscores ongoing concerns about the monitoring and management of convicted sex offenders, especially those with histories of abusing children.
His actions not only violated court orders but also potentially posed a continued threat to the safety of minors in the Newcastle area, prompting a stern judicial response to his misconduct.
