AN Andover man has avoided prison again after breaching his sexual harm prevention order (SHPO) for a second time to speak to people he had not provided police details of.
As previously reported, Callum Lee Bates, 24, from Andover, was charged with making unauthorised contact with persons via the messaging tool Discord.
Discord is an instant messaging and Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) social platform.
On Discord, users have the ability to communicate with voice calls, video calls, text messaging, media and files in private chats or as part of communities called 'servers'.
READ MORE: Andover paedophile Bates pleads guilty to breaching order
Bates was first given a five-year SHPO in April 2018, and he was prohibited from unsupervised contact with any male child under the age of 16.
However, he breached this order in 2020 and was later given a three-year community order in February 2021.
The court previously heard how Bates is a ‘unique case’ due to his ‘complex learning difficulties’ and ‘naivety’.
The latest breaches happened over a period from October 25, 2022, and May 9, 2023.
Bates pleaded guilty to the latest 10 charges at Basingstoke Magistrates’ Court on Thursday, July 20.
He appeared at Winchester Crown Court on Friday, September 8 to be sentenced for the offences.
The court heard how Bates used the service to contact people for gaming purposes.
In mitigation, Lucy Conroy told the court that Bates "is doing well, and that further support can be put in place" if an immediate prison sentence is not imposed.
SEE ALSO: Paedophile Callum Lee Bates avoids prison after breaching sexual harm prevention order
Prosecuting Grace Mcconnell told the court that the breaches were "deliberate".
Despite this, she said: "It did appear to cause no or little harm that we know of. It is not clear what age they were [those he was messaging] on this gaming site but it was not of a sexual nature.”
In his sentencing, Judge Timothy Mousley KC said: "My aim is to simplify the matter so that there are no more instances you have to come back to the court.
"The suspended sentence order that already exists remains in place, so you are still subject to a prison sentence of up to six months in prison if you commit another offence.
"Now I have revoked all the existing community orders and I am imposing a new one in respect of the 10 offences."
Judge Mousley imposed a six-month community order and Bates must also complete 10 rehabilitation days.
A review of the SHPO will take place at the same court on Tuesday, October 3.
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