A registered sex offender has been jailed after he broke the terms of a court order by viewing child pornography.
Peter Howard, 36, had previously been spared jail for trying to engage in sexual communication with a child on SnapChat when, among other things, he asked her to send pictures of herself.
Howard, of Wallace Avenue, Worthing, and formerly of High Street, Shoreham, admitted the latest offences and was jailed for 26 months by Judge Martin Huseyin at Lewes Crown Court.
Sussex Police said: “A registered sex offender who continued to access sexual abuse images of children has been jailed.
“Peter Howard, 36, was subject to a suspended prison sentence imposed for attempting to engage in sexual communication with a child.
“But as part of monitoring by Sussex Police’s VISOR (Violent and Sex Offender Register) team, he was found to be in possession of an internet-enabled device which was a breach of a sexual harm prevention order.
“Howard had also used X.com to search for and to view indecent images of children.
“This included seeing content which depicted category A, B and C images of sexual abuse on the platform.
“At interview, Howard claimed he was searching for sexual images of children but then accepted he had viewed the sexual abuse images.
“He has previous convictions, including serving a prison sentence in 2021 of attempting to engage in sexual communications with a child.
“At Lewes Crown Court on Wednesday 12 August, Howard, of Wallace Avenue, Worthing, admitted breaching a suspended sentence, breaching a sexual harm prevention order and three counts of making or distributing indecent images of children.
“He was jailed for two years and two months.
“The court was told how Howard was made the subject of a suspended sentence for attempting to engage in sexual communications with a child and was subject to ongoing monitoring.”
In April last year, Judge Joshua Swirsky sentenced Howard to a total of 20 months in prison, suspended for two years, after he admitted engaging in sexual communication with a 13-year-old girl.
He tried to persuade her to send pictures of herself on SnapChat in breach of a previous court order.
In the sentencing hearing, also held at Lewes Crown Court, Judge Swirsky ordered Howard to carry out 150 hours of unpaid work within a year and undertake 20 days of rehabilitation activity.
Detective Inspector Debbie Ricks said: “Our officers carry out regular monitoring of the activities of registered sex offenders to ensure they are complying with their requirements.
“It can include registered offenders ensuring they notify police of devices, such as mobile phones, they are in possession of.
“This case demonstrates that we will take action against those who are in breach of court orders designed to protect the public from further harm.
“Howard failed to comply with these court orders and he is now serving a custodial sentence.”
