Rule-breaking pervert back in court after using banned app.

Sex Offender Breaches Court Order by Using Privacy-Focused App

Niall Griffiths, 31, was found to have breached a Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO) by using the DuckDuckGo app, which does not track internet searches.

The court heard that Griffiths, who was handed the SHPO in 2016 after admitting two offences of causing or inciting a child to engage in sexual activity, was subject to a routine police visit on December 1, 2021. During the visit, officers discovered that Griffiths had deleted the Bumble and Kik apps from his phone, violating the terms of his SHPO.

Prosecutor Suzanne Swindail stated that Griffiths' use of DuckDuckGo, which allows for private browsing without internet history, further breached the order. "It also showed he had accessed DuckDuckGo which allows the phone not to retain internet history, placing him in breach," said Swindail.

Griffiths, of Anchor Road, Longton, pleaded guilty to failing to comply with the requirements of a community order and breaching the SHPO. His defense attorney, Mark Harrison, acknowledged the breach occurred two years prior and emphasized Griffiths' desire to cooperate with the probation service.

The court sentenced Griffiths to an additional 30 hours of unpaid work and levied a £479 court bill. This included a £200 fine, £185 prosecution costs, £60 costs to the probation service, and a £34 surcharge.