Sex offender who was caught wearing a mini-skirt with no pants after repeatedly breaching Sexual Harm Prevention Order.

Elderly Sex Offender Jailed for Repeatedly Breaching Sexual Harm Prevention Order

An elderly sex offender who was caught wearing a mini-skirt with no pants has been jailed after repeatedly breaching a Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO).

Sheffield Crown Court heard on March 11 how Colin Norfolk, aged 67, of Richmond Road, Sheffield, had been made subject to a SHPO after accumulating repeated convictions for indecent exposure.

James Baird, prosecuting, said the SHPO prohibited Norfolk from wearing clothing that facilitated the indecent exposure of his genitals in a public place. However, between February and September 2020, police struggled to locate and monitor Norfolk at his flat. When he was seen, he was obstructive. As a result, a camera was installed outside his home to capture his movements.

Mr. Baird stated: "He was seen on the camera and he was arrested leaving the flat wearing a coat, a hat, and a short, floral mini-skirt that came just above his knees and flip-flops. When he was taken into custody, it was found he was not wearing underwear."

The SHPO also prohibited Norfolk from possessing devices capable of securing images without authorization. These devices were to be available for inspection, and Norfolk was obligated to cooperate with police.

Mr. Baird explained that police initially attended Norfolk's home on October 18, 2020. When he failed to answer the door, the camera later showed him leaving the property, confirming his presence during the visit. On November 17, 2020, Norfolk was captured on camera wearing the mini-skirt, which could have facilitated an indecent exposure. Officers subsequently searched Norfolk's flat and seized six mobile phones, only one of which had been registered with the police.

Police also attempted to execute a search warrant at Norfolk's flat, but he refused to answer the door. After they began to force entry, he claimed he would have answered but was getting changed.

Norfolk, who has previous convictions including SHPO breaches, pleaded guilty to four counts of breaching his SHPO: failing to make himself available to police, wearing clothing designed to facilitate indecent exposure, possessing undeclared phones, and failing to answer his door to police.

Ian West, defending, said: "He instructs me he had an epiphany in mid-December 2020 and he decided he had to change his ways. This sort of behaviour – the dressing and being obstructive to the police – was clearly not to his benefit, and matters had got totally out of hand. Mr. West added that Norfolk is no longer wearing dresses or other female clothes, not even in his own home.

Judge Rachael Harrison told Norfolk: "Taking the four counts together, you exhibited, in my view, a persistent breach. You treat this as some sort of game. It is not. Your position is seriously aggravated by your previous convictions."

Judge Harrison sentenced Norfolk to 24 months of custody. He was also given an additional eight weeks of custody relating to the activation of a previously imposed suspended prison sentence.