Sex offender caught using Snapchat and WhatsApp on his phone.

Sex Offender Jailed for Using Snapchat and WhatsApp

A sex offender has been sentenced to prison after breaching a sexual harm prevention order by using Snapchat and WhatsApp on his phone.

Paul Cummings, 38, was previously convicted of attempting to meet a girl under 16 following grooming in September 2020. He was subsequently placed under a sexual harm prevention order and notification requirement.

In November 2022, Cummings was caught breaching the order when he attempted to engage in sexual communication with a child. During a visit to his home in South Shields on December 14, police officers discovered that the Snapchat app had been used the previous day.

Gabrielle Wilks, prosecuting, stated that the WhatsApp app had also been accessed on the same day. Both apps had been deleted from the device.

When questioned about his use of Snapchat, Cummings claimed he was only using it "to pay for pictures of adults." However, a subsequent examination of his phone revealed deleted website history, alias names, and a previously undisclosed Lloyds bank account.

Cummings pleaded guilty to failing to comply with a notification requirement and breaching a sexual harm prevention order. He had previously breached the order on five occasions.

Laura Miller, defending Cummings, acknowledged his actions were "stupid" and "reckless," and that he understood the consequences. Ms. Miller also highlighted Cummings' stable accommodation, which he risked losing upon imprisonment, and his past cooperation with probation services.

Recorder Tony Hawks, presiding over the case, emphasized the severity of Cummings' actions. He stated that Cummings was a registered sex offender with a history of breaching these orders, despite previous prison sentences.

"You are a man who has persistently breached these requirements," Recorder Hawks said. "And so I don't think there's any alternative other than to impose a period of imprisonment that will be immediate."

Cummings was sentenced to 15 months in prison.