Newbury paedophile Simon King admits second breach of Sexual Offences Prevention Order

A PAEDOPHILE who twice breached a Sexual Offences Prevention Order (SOPO) has narrowly avoided being sent back to prison.

Simon King was jailed at Winchester Crown Court in 2013 after getting caught with more than 100,000 indecent images of children.

He had also been convicted of possession and distribution of indecent photos and movies of children, plus images of bestiality.

The 39-year-old, who lives in an apartment in Bregawn House, in Racecourse Road, Newbury, had used the internet to share photos and chat with like-minded perverts.

King was jailed for a year and made subject to a SOPO indefinitely.

Ann Davies, prosecuting at Reading Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday, June 25, said that, under the terms of the order upon his release, King was forbidden from accessing social media chat sites without notifying police.

But when his offender manager turned up at his home in January and inspected his devices, it was discovered that King had been doing exactly that.

King admitted using apps including Grindr, Bumble For Friends and Only Fans without disclosing it as ordered in Newbury.

He also has a caution for a previous breach of the SOPO, magistrates were told.

Max Riley-Gould, defending, suggested his client had “simply forgotten” his obligations.

He said: “In my submission this is a relatively low level offence; he held his hands up.”

Mr Riley-Gould said King had been suffering from anxiety and depression which may have contributed to his latest offending.

He told the court that his client was working as a product manager for a firm that produced tools for gas cylinders.

Magistrates noted that a pre-sentence report compiled by the probation service had recommended a community penalty.

But they warned King that they had serious considered sending him back to prison.

The breach had been deliberate and King had told a probation officer he felt the police had been interpreting the conditions of the SOPO “strictly” and he had nevertheless become complacent about it.

Magistrates told King: “You knew exactly what you were required not to do.

“You’re on an unlimited time order and you mustn’t breach it.

“Next time you will go into custody if the magistrates feel it’s right.

“However on this occasion we’re going to go along with the recommendation in the probation report.”

King was made subject to a 12-month community order with a requirement that he completes up to 20 rehabilitation activity days.

In addition, he was ordered to complete 150 hours of unpaid community work.

Finally, King was required to pay £85 costs, plus a statutory victim services surcharge of £114.

He remains subject to the SOPO conditions.