A sex offender who flouted a court order by repeatedly deleting his phone call, messaging and internet browsing history has spent three weeks in prison following the recent breaches.

Jonathan Frost also spent a month on remand in Durham Prison earlier this year for a previous breach of the order, first made following his original conviction in June 2021.

Following the latest flouting of the Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO), Durham Crown Court was told he has found those short spells in custody this year a difficult experience.

He was given a further suspended sentence for those latest breaches, but the 42-year-old County Durham offender was given a stern warning as to the outcome should he repeat the offences in future.

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Frost, of Corscombe Close, Ferryhill, admitted three counts of breaching an SHPO when he appeared before magistrates at Newton Aycliffe, on June 22.

He was remanded in custody with the case sent to be sentenced at the crown court.

Ellen Wright, prosecuting, told Friday’s (July 12) sentencing hearing that the latest breaches were all committed between May 17 and June 21 this year.

Miss Wright said the original sentence, more than three years ago now, was for engaging in sexual communication with a child and meeting a boy, under 16, following grooming.

The SHPO was put in place to monitor and restrict his future phone and internet use, for ten years.

Miss Wright said Frost’s supervising officer, from Durham Police’s public protection unit, went through the terms of the order point-by-point, to ensure he understood it fully, on April 17, after the previous breach.

Following concerns raised by the Probation Service, after Frost claimed to have been told by police that he did not need to retain his internet use history and there was no record of calls, messages or searches on his phone, he was again reminded of his obligations.

He was revisited by the supervising officer on June 21 and cautioned and arrested after all but the previous three days’ use was found to have been wiped from the phone.

(Image: The Northern Echo)

Frost made to comment in interview but pleaded guilty to the three breaches when he appeared before the magistrates on June 22, which put him in breach of a suspended sentence order imposed after his earlier breaches, in April.

He appeared via video link from HMP Durham for the sentencing hearing.

Asked by Judge Jo Kidd if the first taste of prison this year had been a shock to Frost, his counsel, Duncan McReddie, replied: “It’s been a bad experience for him.

“He has considerable learning difficulties and finds it difficult to retain information given to him.

“As has been stated, he has been repeatedly warned.

“He came to the conclusion, quite wrongly, that the items deleted were entirely innocent, some of them spam, items he regarded as superfluous.

“He’s been reminded that it's immaterial, and so there has been a bit of inadequacy on his part.”

Judge Kidd said given the time he has spent time in custody, albeit on remand, she would not impose an immediate prison sentence.

Addressing the defendant, Judge Kidd asked: “Do you understand you can’t delete anything from your phone or other devices now?

“Do you understand what will happen if you breach this order again?”

To both questions he replied: “Yes”.

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Judge Kidd increased his prison sentence by six months to one of 14 months, but suspended it for two years.

She added five more rehabilitation activity days, which he must undergo under the supervision of the Probation Service.

Judge Kidd added: “Ill reserve any further breaches to myself and if you breach your order again you will be going to prison for 14 months."