July 2022

Swindon sex offender banned from contacting children

A Swindon sex offender has been banned from contacting under 16s after he admitted attempting to engage in sexual communication with a child.

Christopher Joseph Allen pleaded guilty to one count of attempting to engage in sexual communication with a child in a hearing at Swindon Crown Court on July 1.

The offence is said to have taken place in 2021.

Prosecutor David Scutt told the court that the 38-year-old has a previous conviction for a sexual offence, but no details were provided to the court.

Defending, Edward Culver told the court that Allen, of Clapham Close, Moredon, understands “he would be at risk of immediate imprisonment”, but said there is “some quite strong personal mitigation to be provided” and requested a pre-sentence report.

Judge James Townsend ordered the report, adding: “That will be an all options pre-sentence report. Even if you didn’t have previous convictions, the starting point under the new guidelines is a prison sentence.

“I’m not saying it will inevitably be a prison sentence but you must understand that is a likely outcome.”

He was released on conditional bail, where he must not contact anyone under the age of 16, pending the sentencing hearing on July 29.