Convicted Sex Offender Back in Jail for Breaching Order

A convicted sex offender is back behind bars after breaching an order designed to curb his deviancy. Michael Minchell, whose previous convictions include sexual assault and child abduction, was made subject to a sexual harm prevention order in July 2020 for child sex offences.

In June of this year, a visit by a risk management officer revealed that Minchell was not abiding by the order. He had a mobile phone that he failed to register with police for three months and also had USB memory sticks that he hadn't disclosed to officers, as required by the order.

Furthermore, Minchell had been in regular contact with another sex offender he met in prison, which was also forbidden under the order. He had also contacted another pervert.

Newcastle Crown Court heard that Minchell, 57, has nine previous convictions. In December 2020, he received a suspended sentence for two counts of gross indecency with a child under 13 and indecent assault of a boy. He was also convicted of three counts of sexual assault and child abduction in 2007 and indecent assault in 1998.

ChronicleLive reported in December 2020 that our story about the foot fetish pervert prompted a new victim to come forward and report what Minchell had done decades earlier.

Jane Foley, defending Minchell, said, "He would say he is vulnerable. He has been frequently bullied and easily led. He seeks the approval of others. When he has formed friendships in prison, he has found it very difficult to steer clear of them. He has lost his job as a result of his offending. He is an isolated individual and has anxiety and depression."

Minchell, 57, of Saint Cuthbert's Court, Gateshead, pleaded guilty to four counts of breaching a sexual harm prevention order and being in breach of a suspended sentence. Judge Julie Clemitson jailed him for a total of 29 months and told him the sexual harm prevention order and sex offender registration will continue for life.

The judge stated, "You have demonstrated a pattern of non-compliance with measures implemented to manage the risk you pose. You are isolated and have lost your job. Those are consequences of the path you have chosen to lead through your life. You put your own needs ahead of the measures put in place to protect other people."