Former missionary (76) breached Sexual Offences Prevention Order by downloading 'X' app
A 76-year-old sex offender from Co Antrim - once a former missionary in Nepal - who admitted breaching a Sexual Offences Prevention Order by accessing 'a social media site or application' has received a suspended jail term.
David Harper, with an address listed as Drumnagreagh Road near Ballygally, committed the offence on days between June 12-21 this year.
In September last year the defendant had been sentenced at Antrim Crown Court for 20 offences including attempted sexual communication with a child and making, possessing and distributing indecent, prohibited and extreme images of children.
He had been sentenced to two years - eight months in prison and one year and four months on licence. He was placed on the Sex Offenders Register for ten years and was made the subject of a Sexual Offences Prevention Order for seven years.
The defendant has now been before Ballymena Magistrates' Court for sentencing for breaching the SOPO by having an app for 'X' - formerly Twitter - without prior permission from his designated risk manager.
A defence barrister told the magistrates' court the defendant had "involvement with a number of local Christian services" and added: "This is a man who for many years worked himself in Nepal as a missionary and there was then a return back to Northern Ireland".
The lawyer said the defendant was not being recalled on prison licence as a result of the SOPO breach.
The barrister added: "Probation were quite amazed by the fact this breach was brought to their attention by the defendant".
The lawyer said "the X app on his phone had been on his phone from his phone being surrendered to him after being released from prison".
The barrister said the defendant now only uses a phone with no internet access and he has no computer access.
District Judge Nigel Broderick said SOPOs are important as they are designed to prevent reoffending and "protect against future victims".
He told the defendant: "I have read carefully the explanation you provided to the Probation Officer and I am satisfied on balance this was a mistake you made and there doesn't appear to be anything sinister in terms of you having access to this unapproved application on your phone".
The judge said the defendant had "co-operated fully" with the investigation.
The defendant was given a three months prison term, suspended for two years.