Thornley sex offender was caught on ‘Granny Space’ site

Gary Horn also breached his Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO) by deleting the internet history from his Google browser to try to conceal his use of those sites.

The 40-year-old defendant, of Ruskin Crescent, Thornley, appeared at Durham Crown Court for sentence after previously admitting six breaches of the SHPO.

Caiomhe Bicknell, prosecuting, said the defendant received a suspended prison sentence in May 2020 for attempted sexual communication with a child.

But he was made subject of the ten-year SHPO, which he breached the following year, for which he was fined.

Sex offender Gary Horn escaped an immediate prison sentence despite a second breach of a court order (Image: Child Online Safety Team (COST))

Remaining subject of the SHPO, police monitoring officers discovered he had accessed various chat room sites, using alias names which were variations of his own name, in November last year.

These sites included 50Flirty.com, Granny Space, Granny Site and Xtremechat.

The court heard he failed to notify his offender risk manager that he had accessed those sites, and then wiped his browsing history, all in breach of the SHPO.

Chris Morrison, for Horn, said the defendant has lived a “stable life” with his partner of several years.

But he said at the time of the offences he was, “in a difficult place” with money and work pressures, and sought out the chat sites, “as an escape from the stresses he was going through”.

Gary Horn pictured leaving court after receiving a suspended prison sentence (Image: Child Online Safety Team (COST))

Mr Morrison said the defendant remains in work, as a forklift driver for a Newton Aycliffe car parts manufacturer.

He also acts as the main support for his partner, who has been in ill-health and underwent surgery last week.

Mr Morrison added that the defendant has suffered previously with his own mental health.

He said Horn spent time in a mental health facility for severe depression and has also, “had a struggle with the bottle”, which he has found hard to resist.

Sex offender Gary Horn pictured after receiving a suspended prison sentence at Durham Crown Court (Image: Child Online Safety Team (COST))

Relating to the content of the material he accessed online, Mr Morrison said they were not sites on which he was likely to encounter anyone of a young age.

He added that the defendant has, “expressed no desire” to go on the internet until the expiry of the SHPO.

Judge Richard Clews told Horn: “Court orders are in place to be obeyed.

“Offenders can’t be given the impression that they can flout orders with impunity.

“You accessed five different chat rooms and deleted your browsing history.

“I accept they were adult chat rooms with a low degree of likelihood of you seeking communication with a child.

“Nevertheless, they were deliberate breaches of the order to which you knew you were subject.

“Happily, little harm seems to have been caused, but the risks are plain for everyone to see.”

Judge Clews said they merited 12 months’ imprisonment, but he had to decide whether to make that immediate or suspend the sentence.

“You are described as a high risk in a number of respects, but you have a police officer designated to supervise you who will no doubt keep a keen eye on your activity.”

The judge said he had to consider that the defendant is working, “in a decent job”, and immediate prison would impact on his partner, given her health issues.

He, therefore, suspended sentence for two years and ordered the defendant to attend 25 rehabilitation activity sessions with the Probation Service and carry out 75 hours’ unpaid work.

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The judge warned the defendant there are still more than five years to run on the SHPO.

He said if there were any further breaches of the order or more offending in general, “the overwhelming likelihood” would be that he would have to serve the sentence behind bars.

On leaving court with his partner, Horn was confronted by paedophile hunting group members who told him he had, “dodged a bullet for the third time.”