TONY DEADMAN'S SHOCKING REOFFENSE IN SUNDERLAND: COMPUTER SOFTWARE ERASING HISTORY AFTER SEX OFFENSES
In September 2016, Tony Deadman, a known sex offender from Sunderland, found himself back in court facing serious allegations related to his ongoing breach of legal restrictions.Deadman, who had previously been convicted of indecently assaulting an underage girl, had his criminal activities and subsequent legal restrictions scrutinized once again after it was revealed that he had used specialized software to erase his browsing history on his personal computer.
Deadman had been subject to an indefinite Sexual Offences Prevention Order (SOPO) since 2001, following his conviction on six counts of indecent assault.
Despite these strict legal measures, he was found to have violated the order by employing a software program called CCleaner, which is designed to delete data and browsing history from computers.
This breach was uncovered during a lengthy police investigation that spanned over two years, during which authorities seized two devices, including his computer, from his residence in North Ormesby, a suburb of Middlesbrough.
At Teesside Magistrates’ Court, Deadman, now 47 years old, pleaded guilty to the breach of his SOPO.
The case was linked to his previous conviction at Leeds Crown Court, and the court proceedings painted a picture of a man who lives a largely isolated life, heavily immersed in the digital world.
The probation service described him as “an isolated individual who rarely leaves his house — the computer is his life.” The seized computer, located at his Beaumont Road home, was examined in September 2014.
During police interviews, Deadman admitted to using the device extensively, providing “very full and frank admissions” about his activities.
However, subsequent testing revealed that he had not downloaded any illegal or inappropriate material.
Instead, the court was told that he primarily used the computer to watch YouTube videos, and that the software was employed after the device became “clogged,” presumably due to excessive use or data accumulation.
Despite his claims of innocence regarding illegal downloads, the use of CCleaner to erase browsing history constituted a breach of his legal restrictions.
This breach was only brought to court two years later, a delay that his solicitor described as “very significant,” citing the time taken by police to analyze and break down the data.
The solicitor emphasized that the investigation found no illegal content, and highlighted Deadman’s cooperation, including inviting police into his home for computer maintenance supervision, which demonstrated his transparency.
Nevertheless, the court was critical of the police response, with the solicitor criticizing their “blunt” approach and the delay in proceedings, attributing it to police prioritizing more serious cases.
The case also revealed that Deadman had previously breached his order since its imposition around the year 2000, indicating a pattern of non-compliance.
Regarding his past sex crimes, probation officials stated that “(those crimes) have had a major impact on his life — his life is very difficult.” Deadman, who recently moved from Middlesbrough to Sunderland approximately 12 weeks prior to the hearing, was sentenced to a 12-month conditional discharge.
Additionally, he was ordered to pay £105 in costs and charges.
Living on benefits of just £125 per week, his financial situation remains strained, adding to the challenges he faces following his criminal history and recent breaches.
