In 2019, the Offender Database reported that George Hobson, then 33, of Newcastle, Tyne and Wear, was spared immediate prison for a second time despite breaching a suspended sentence for child abuse images. On Friday, 8 February 2019, Hobson appeared at Newcastle Crown Court, where he was handed another suspended sentence for “reprehensible” digital offending.
The investigation established that Hobson “calculatingly” downloaded 700 indecent pictures of children while already serving a suspended sentence for the exact same offence. When officers inspected his devices, they also discovered “vile” extreme pornography involving women and dogs. The prosecution reported that Hobson was in “persistent” breach of a 10-year Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO) that had been originally imposed in 2015 to restrict his internet use.
Judicial Findings and Non-Compliance
Paul Caufield, defending, argued that Hobson lives largely in a “virtual world” and would “not cope well” in a custodial environment. He emphasised that Hobson had supposedly “learned from his mistakes” and was making “significant progress” in a residential home where his internet access is “critically” supervised. The prosecution reported that Hobson pleaded guilty to three counts of making indecent images, possessing extreme pornography, and “reprehensibly” breaching both his suspended sentence and his SHPO.
Judge Robert Spragg emphasised that the 16-month sentence—identical to the one Hobson received in 2015—would be suspended for two years to keep a prison term “hanging over his head.” The judge warned that if Hobson failed to maintain his progress, he would “not get a second chance.” The court heard that the “gravity” of his “persistent” recidivism necessitated a fresh 10-year court order to protect the public from his “sinister” digital habits.
Sentence and Statutory Requirements
For his “abhorrent” repeat crimes in Newcastle, George Hobson was handed:
- Custodial Sentence: 16 months in prison, suspended for two years.
- Fine: A £50 fine for the breach of his previous suspended sentence.
- Sex Offenders Register: Notification requirements were maintained for a further 10 years.
- SHPO: A new 10-year Sexual Harm Prevention Order was issued.
Monitoring and Public Protection
Hobson is managed under Multi-Agency Public Protection Arrangements (MAPPA) by Northumbria Police. His history of “persistent” downloading while under court orders and his “calculating” interest in both child abuse and animal cruelty mean his status remains under “critical” scrutiny.
As a member of the Sex Offenders Register until 2029, Hobson must comply with strict notification requirements regarding his residence in Newcastle. Authorities state that his supervised internet access at his residential home is a “critical” measure to prevent further “reprehensible” behaviour. Any further breach of his registration conditions or his fresh SHPO will result in his immediate return to Newcastle Crown Court to serve his sentence.
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