Bolton: Sex offender breached order with stalking offence

Kevan Shane Howard, 52, was put on the sex offenders register ten years ago for sexual activity with a child - despite this, he went on to allow youngsters under the age of 18 to stay at his home.

He also subjected a girl to a seven-week campaign of stalking and frightening messages, beginning with a text sent in December 2021, Bolton Crown Court heard.

Michael Goldwater, prosecuting, said: “Not surprisingly, she found him strange and knew what was happening was wrong.”

He added: “It was persistent and it caused a significant amount of distress.”

Howard 'obsessively' stalked his victim (Image: Newsquest)

Mr Goldwater told the court how Howard, who has 16 previous convictions for 38 offences, had repeatedly texted his victim asking if she wanted to come out with him and if she wanted to go for drinks.

Howard, of Wardle Street, asked for photos of her and at one point asked her to meet him in a graveyard with his dogs.

She blocked his number, and told her parents - Howard was eventually convicted of stalking after a trial before the magistrates' court.

He also admitted to two breaches of his sexual harm prevention order.

Howard had been hit with the order in 2013 after pleading guilty to sexual activity with a child.

Mr Goldwater said the victim had been left ‘frightened and worried he was going to do something'.

Though the second victim had not complained of any inappropriate behaviour, Howard has still breached his order by allowing her to stay over at his home.

The case was heard at Bolton Crown Court (Image: Newsquest)

Mr Goldwater said: “This was not just a case of allowing someone to stay over the odd time, this was persistent over a long period of time.”

Kevin Lister, defending, pointed out to the court that though Howard’s actions had been deeply distressing there was ‘no suggestion of violence’ involved.

He said: “In the spectrum of these types of offences it is not at the bottom, but neither is it at the higher end of the spectrum where people can be stalked or harassed over a period of months or even years.”

Mr Lister argued that Howard had shown a strong work ethic, was in stable accommodation and could be managed safely in the community rather than being sent to prison immediately.

But Judge Eliot Knopf reminded the court of the profound impact Howard’s behaviour had had on his victim.

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He said: “The effect of your offending on that young girl has been graphically described.

“No one can be in any doubt, least of all you, as to the consequences of your persistent pestering and obsession.”

Judge Knopf sentenced Howard to a total of 14 months in prison.