A convicted sex offender from Peterborough has been jailed after repeatedly breaching strict court orders designed to protect children.
Steven Blades, 35, of Manton, Bretton, was arrested at his home after police discovered he had ignored multiple conditions of a Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO) and his Sex Offender Notification Requirements (SONR).
Blades was originally convicted in 2022 for attempting to engage in sexual communication with a child. The court ordered him to inform police of any changes to his personal circumstances within three days and to report any contact with under-18s lasting more than 12 hours.
But in August, officers from the Management of Sexual or Violent Offenders (MOSOVO) team made several unannounced visits to his home and found he was missing. Enquiries revealed he had travelled to a holiday park in Yorkshire, where he had contact with children – a clear breach of his order.
When arrested, Blades admitted to the Yorkshire trip as well as further breaches, including buying an internet-capable device and creating a new email address without notifying police.
At Cambridge Crown Court on Wednesday (29 October), Blades pleaded guilty to one count of breaching a Sexual Harm Prevention Order and five counts of failing to comply with sex offender register notifications. He was jailed for one year and eight months.
Detective Constable Faye Patterson said: “Blades knew what he was doing was wrong but chose to ignore the rules. These orders exist to protect the public, especially children.”
Members of the public can request information about individuals who may pose a risk to children under Sarah’s Law, via the Cambridgeshire Police website.
