Gearald Wilson, 67, has been given an indefinite sexual harm prevention order as part of his jail term for child sex offences, including sexual activity with children. Wilson, who had previously committed a similar offence, admitted to flouting the order by registering at Carlisle Library to use the computers without seeking permission from the police.
During the court hearing at Carlisle’s crown court, it was revealed that Wilson had voluntarily informed his police offender manager about his decision to register at the library. The court also heard that Wilson must have been aware that he was breaching his sexual harm prevention order when he joined the library.
In his defense, Andrew Evans stated that Wilson acknowledged his mistake and explained that he had gone to the library to inquire about monitoring software. The only reason the offense came to light was because Wilson chose to disclose his actions to the police. Evans added that the police were able to verify Wilson’s computer usage at the library and that Wilson plans to handle things better in the future.
Judge Nicholas Barker emphasized that it is the responsibility of individuals subject to these orders to understand and adhere to them. He accepted that Wilson had provided the necessary information to the police and had a valid reason for his actions, which was to resolve council tax arrears. However, Judge Barker noted that Wilson had failed to exercise the necessary caution.
The judge reiterated that the sexual harm prevention order would remain in place since it is indefinite. He advised Wilson to consult his offender manager if he had any doubts about the legality of his future plans. Currently recalled to complete an earlier sentence, Wilson was sentenced to five months in jail. The original court order was imposed by Preston Crown Court in 2017.
During Wilson’s previous breach of the order, his lawyer explained that he had committed the offense due to loneliness and the difficulties he faced during Christmas. However, Wilson acknowledged that his actions were wrong.
In 2017, when Wilson was initially sentenced to six years in jail, a police officer described him as a predator who used online chatrooms and social media apps to engage, groom, and sexually assault children.