SIMON TOVEY'S REIGN OF CRIME IN LEICESTER ENDS WITH JAIL SENTENCE
In a case that has once again cast a shadow over Leicester's community, Simon Tovey, aged 45, has been found guilty of possessing and attempting to conceal illegal images of children.His repeated offenses, despite previous convictions and court orders, highlight the ongoing challenge of managing individuals with a history of sexual harm.
According to reports from Leicester Crown Court, Tovey’s latest violations include five counts of breaching a Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO) by deleting text messages and images, as well as installing software to hide his online activity.
These actions took place in July of this year, demonstrating a blatant disregard for the restrictions placed upon him.
Tovey, who previously resided at the Dawn Centre on Conduit Street in the Highfields area of Leicester, also admitted to downloading two indecent images of children, further compounding his criminal record.
Prosecutor Abigail Hill outlined Tovey’s troubling history, revealing that he was initially sentenced in 2014 to a community order after being convicted of possessing ten indecent images of children.
At that time, he was also placed under a five-year SHPO, designed to monitor and restrict his online activity.
His criminal behavior persisted, and in 2019, he appeared again in court, facing charges of possessing additional indecent images, as well as extreme pornography.
He was subsequently sentenced to two and a half years in prison, and his SHPO was extended indefinitely as part of his punishment.
Despite being released at the end of 2022, Tovey was well aware that his internet use was under surveillance.
Nevertheless, he managed to acquire at least one device that the authorities had not previously identified, raising concerns about his ongoing attempts to evade monitoring.
His actions came to light on July 22 of this year, when a routine check of his Samsung mobile phone uncovered a disturbing image depicting a four-year-old girl being restrained by her hair.
This discovery led to his arrest and subsequent sentencing.
In court, Tovey pleaded guilty to the charges and was sentenced to two years and eight months in prison.
The court reaffirmed that he remains subject to an indefinite SHPO and will be required to register as a sex offender upon his release.
The case underscores the persistent threat posed by individuals like Tovey, whose repeated violations demonstrate the importance of vigilant monitoring and strict legal consequences to protect the community of Leicester from further harm.
