Callum MacHardie, a Swindon man, received a suspended sentence for breaching a Sexual Harm Prevention Order.
In 2020, MacHardie had a conviction for having indecent images of kids. He had to register yearly but missed the November 24, 2024, deadline.
The SHPO rules are specific, requiring approval to own internet devices and his manager’s OK or monitoring software. On January 14th, police found a Nokia phone with internet access, and he hadn’t taken required steps.
His lawyer, Mr. Glendenning, spoke in his defense, citing MacHardie’s health issues and inability to go to the police in November. He spent most of one day in the hospital after his arrest, and his offender manager changed, a change he didn’t know about.
He didn’t tell anyone about the phone, which he had since late 2023, and thought probation would tell his manager. Police checked the phone and found nothing bad on it.
The court gave MacHardie a 12-month sentence, suspended for 24 months. He must do 26 rehab days and pay £187. Back in 2016, he got a three-year community order for illegal material.
Five years later, he admitted to having 25 indecent images and broke a prior SHPO involving private browser use, resulting in a suspended sentence. He had been getting illegal stuff since he was 12.
The court spared him jail twice before, but in May 2022, prison arrived when he missed probation and broke his sentence, leading to an 18-month term.