Sex offender jailed for wiping the history from his phone.

Sex Offender Jailed for Deleting Phone History

Stephen Jones, 55, of Sunderland, has been jailed for 18 months for breaching his sexual harm prevention order by deleting the history on his phone.

Jones was previously caught by paedophile hunters in 2020 attempting to meet a child following sexual grooming. He was given a chance to stay out of prison but was subject to restrictions, including a ban on deleting his internet history.

On May 11, police visited Jones's home to check his devices. When asked to examine his phone, Jones handed it over, claiming there was nothing on it. However, he admitted to deleting the history, stating, "You won't find anything, I wiped it. I like to wipe my phone."

Jones was arrested and pleaded guilty to breaching his sexual harm prevention order. Judge Christopher Prince, at Newcastle Crown Court, condemned Jones's actions, stating, "You have got a concerning record in recent times. You are a high risk of sexual offences against children."

This incident highlights the importance of adhering to court-ordered restrictions, particularly for sex offenders. Jones's sentence serves as a warning that such violations will be met with severe consequences.