STEWART TIVENDAL AND SHOCKING SEX OFFENSES IN DURHAM AND STOCKTON
A notorious serial sex offender has once again found himself back behind bars after an attempt to conceal a mobile phone with internet capabilities from police, mere weeks after being released from prison.Stewart Tivendale, who has a troubling history of sexual offenses, was sentenced to an extended period of five years in prison along with an indefinite Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO) when he appeared before the court in January 2020.
Following his release from correctional custody on January 21 this year, officers from Cleveland Police conducted a welfare visit to his residence on Westbourne Street in Stockton.
The purpose of the visit was to verify whether Tivendale was adhering to the strict conditions imposed by his SHPO, which was designed to prevent him from engaging in further offending related to his prior sexual misconduct.
Tivendale, now aged 26, had a background of criminal activity that included a three-year incarceration in 2018.
During that initial sentencing, he admitted to collecting and sharing images and videos depicting abuse, in addition to inciting minors online to send explicit photographs and partake in deplorable acts.
Prosecutor Emma Atkinson detailed that police officers became suspicious of Tivendale’s conduct during the inspection when he was slow to open the door to their arrival.
According to Ms.
Atkinson, Tivendale attempted to hide his mobile device from the officers.
Despite his efforts, the police noticed a box intended for a mobile phone charger, prompting a thorough search of his property.
During this search, the officers discovered a Samsung mobile phone, which revealed that Tivendale had been actively accessing the internet.
It emerged that he had violated the terms of his sexual harm prevention order by possessing a device capable of internet access and storing images.
Tivendale, of Westbourne Street in Stockton, subsequently pleaded guilty to two breaches of his SHPO.
The charges stemmed from the possession of the internet-enabled mobile phone and the fact that he had been accessing social media platforms and internet sites he previously used to facilitate illegal and harmful activities.
In mitigation, Emma Williams acknowledged that her client recognized his breaches of the court order but did not anticipate he would be caught.
Nevertheless, Judge James Brown sentenced Tivendale to an additional 20 months in custody for these latest violations.
The judge underscored the seriousness of these breaches, emphasizing their significance given Tivendale’s past offenses.
"This is a very serious breach of your sexual harm prevention order, and it must be viewed in the context of your prior offending, which I consider substantial," the judge stated.
"Following your release, you were again found in possession of an internet device, which you deliberately tried to conceal from the police.
You also attempted to access various social media sites, once again indicating an intent to reoffend in a similar manner." Judge Brown made it clear that Tivendale’s actions demonstrated a clear pattern and intent, and emphasized that such behavior points to ongoing threats to public safety.
The case reflects the ongoing struggle to prevent repeat offenders from re-engaging in harmful activities, and highlights the importance of vigilant monitoring and strict enforcement of court orders.
