A convicted sex-offender currently still under a Probation Order for previous matters has been charged with 12 counts of breaching a Sexual Offences Prevention Order (SOPO), after his phone was examined during a meeting with his Designated Risk Manager (DRM).
Previously from Aughnacloy, Peter John Hackett, whose address was given as no fixed abode, is accused of breaching the SOPO in numerous ways, including having contact with a child without prior approval, possessing a non-approved phone, deleting text messages, using a device cleaning app, using a virtual private network to mask his identity, five counts of possessing internet-enabled devices and two of possessing data storage devices.
Offending is alleged to have occurred at his former Aughnacloy home which he shared with elderly family members.
A detective constable told a special sitting of Dungannon Magistrates’ Court the charges could be connected.
She explained Hackett was convicted of possessing indecent images of children in 2023, for which he was placed under a Probation Order for three years and a SOPO for five years.
Police had received a report that Hacket was in contact with children who lived on the same street who were coming into his garden to play.
It was further alleged two young children known to Hackett would visit regularly and often stayed overnight.
Police attended his next DRM meeting on July 10 at which he denied any child contact.
His phone was examined and officers discovered multiple social media apps, cleaning software and a virtual private network, none of which had been approved.
Hackett was arrested and a search of his home revealed multiple devices, including portable hard drive storage, Xboxes, a tablet, multiple SIM cards, routers and two further mobile phones.
Social Services confirmed he is not permitted any unsupervised contact with any children and the mother of the two who had been staying at the property is now fully aware.
During interview Hackett admitted the SOPO breaches, and it was decided to charge him immediately due to risks of reoffending.
A defence solicitor said those residing with Hackett at the Aughnacloy address knew about the convictions but the detective said they were unaware of the seriousness of his record, nor did they know of the SOPO.
The defence enquired how a neighbour knew of the SOPO to which the detective replied there was extensive media coverage of the conviction, and while they knew Hackett was a registered sex offender.
It was also contended the devices seized from Hackett’s former home had been returned to him by police following his last conviction as nothing untoward was found, however the detective said while this was correct, he was not authorised to use them and, “when I attended the home an Xbox and two hard drives were powered and plugged into the television.”
The defence said Hackett, “insists he had no unsupervised contact, nor was alone with the children when there, as he would remove himself to his room”.
It was also contended when Hackett would smoke a cigarette in his front garden, children in the area would be in and out, and there was no evidence he encouraged this.
The defence concluded, “There are bail conditions and along with the SOPO terms, the court could be confident in granting bail.”
But District Judge Steven Keown replied, “I don’t share your confidence. There are multiple major breaches of SOPO. This is someone whom the scaffolding of the SOPO and a Probation Order have failed to manage him effectively. I’ve no confidence any bail conditions would do so either.”
Hackett will appear again by video-link on July 29.
