A convicted Medway sex offender who carried out multiple breaches of a Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO) has been imprisoned. Brandon Coleman from Chatham, spent unsupervised time with children and used electronic devices to access the internet without adhering to strict conditions under which he had been placed.
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Coleman, 22, became the subject of a SHPO after being convicted of making indecent images of children in October 2021. The court order stipulated that the offender should not have any contact with juveniles unless certain restrictions were in place. It further banned him from using any devices capable of accessing the internet or storing digital images without informing the authorities, and stated any that he did possess must be available for inspection by the police when asked.
The SHPO also ordered Coleman not to use any form of software capable of deleting internet history or making messages disappear.
Concerns were raised that Coleman was not abiding by the terms of the court order and a report was made to Kent Police. Following an investigation, the offender was found to be in breach of the SHPO and was arrested on 16 October 2024. An examination of his mobile phone uncovered further prohibited activity, including that he had downloaded Snapchat and was using several different online aliases.
Coleman was charged and later pleaded guilty to making an indecent image, failing to comply with notification requirements for the sex offender register and multiple breaches of a SHPO.
On Tuesday 8 April 2025 at Maidstone Crown Court, Coleman was sentenced to two and a half years in prison.
PC Leona Valsler said:
‘We use Sexual Harm Prevention Orders to protect vulnerable people from predators such as Coleman. Despite having clarified that he understood the terms of the court order, Coleman chose to ignore the opportunity he had to abide by them, and to change his ways. Instead, he persisted in attempting to make contact with potential victims, and indulging his vile behaviour.
‘I hope that the custodial sentence that Coleman has received sends a clear message to offenders: anyone who breaches legislation will be pursued and will be made to face the consequences of their actions.’