Sex offender jailed for 30 months for Sexual Harm Prevention Order breach

A sex offender has been jailed for two and a half years for breaching the terms of a Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO).

Andrew Haire was handed the 10 year SHPO on 26 November 2020, as part of a sentence for making indecent images of children whilst living on the Isle of Wight, for which he also received a 20 month jail term.

The 42-year-old, of Stakes Road in Waterlooville, was subject to a number of prohibitions under the SHPO, including using any device that can access the internet unless he notifies a police officer from his local public protection unit that he possesses the item first.

The conditions also made clear that any device possessed by Haire must have the capacity to retain and display the internet history, or has been approved by police if the device was unable to retain the history.

After he was released from prison, Haire had to wear an electronic tag which was monitored and indicated he had been visiting libraries in Hampshire.

Police enquiries established that, on a number of occasions between 31 August and 12 October, Haire had been using a library card to access the internet.

Officers attended Haire’s address on 12 October where he was arrested, and officers searching his room located a library card in his name, along with writings detailing his fantasies of abusing children.

In interview, Haire revealed he had accessed computers at public libraries in Portsmouth, Havant and Waterlooville with the sole aim of accessing indecent images of children.

He was subsequently charged with breaching his SHPO, and he admitted the offence when he appeared at Portsmouth Magistrates’ Court on 13 October this year.

Appearing at Portsmouth Crown Court today (Friday 12 November), Haire was jailed for 30 months.

PC Pamela Fisher, from the Eastern Offender Management Team, said: “Andrew Haire is a particularly dangerous individual who has clearly shown no sign of willingness to comply with the conditions imposed on him by the courts.

“Sexual Harm Prevention Orders are put in place to protect the public, and ensure that individuals do not re-offend. Where they choose to disregard them, they are rightly punished and I am pleased that Haire is now back behind bars.

“Haire admitted what he had been doing, and this was further evidenced by our enquiries and what was recovered from his bedroom.

“Despite his admissions to police, he had nonetheless attempted to access computers away from his address in public libraries, and we would urge anyone who uses this kind of facility and notices anyone behaving in a suspicious manner to report this to police.

“We invest significant resources into the protection of the public and the management of sex offenders, and it’s a duty we take very seriously.

“Officers will often make unannounced visits to offenders where they are subject to an intrusive investigative interview process. This helps us understand an offender’s routine, interests and behaviours so we can closely monitor them and keep the public safe.”