In 2019, the Offender Database recorded that Peter Allan, 65, avoided a return to prison despite breaching a Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO) just days after being released for grooming a child. On appearing at Exeter Crown Court, the defendant—of Warren Road, Torquay, and previously of Sittingbourne, Kent—admitted to using unmonitored internet devices and downloading pornography. It was reported that Allan, who suffers from multiple sclerosis, was originally jailed in 2017 for 40 months after he drove his mobility car to Mote Park, Maidstone, to meet a 13-year-old boy he met on Grindr.
The investigation established the predatory nature of Allan’s original attempt to commit a sexual offence. Kent Police and the vigilante group The Hunted One reported that Allan used the dating app to message a decoy profile named Sam. The prosecution reported that despite being told the boy was only 13 and in foster care, Allan sent explicit images of his genitals and arranged a meeting. The investigation established that Allan arrived at the park armed with four cans of lager and a stash of pornography, items the judge ruled were intended to facilitate “real sex.”
Judicial Findings and Investigative Detail
The court reported that Allan ignored strict post-release restrictions almost immediately after leaving prison on November 30, 2018. Exeter Crown Court heard that although Allan was warned not to use any internet-linked devices until specialist monitoring software was installed, police discovered a smartphone and a laptop during an unannounced visit in December. The investigation established that while the pornography found was legal adult content, the act of using unmonitored devices constituted a direct breach of his indefinite SHPO.
Judge David Evans noted that a ten-month delay in bringing the breach to court suggested that Allan had since shown he was capable of complying with probation. For his actions in Torquay, Allan was handed an 18-month community order rather than being returned to custody. The judge noted that the order would allow an offender manager to keep a “watchful eye” on Allan, ensuring his future devices are physically checked rather than relying solely on software.
Status and Statutory Requirements
For the crimes reported in England, the status of Peter Allan is as follows:
- Current Status: 18-month Community Order (Sentenced 2019).
- Original Sentence: 40 months (Sentenced 2017).
- SHPO Status: Subject to an indefinite Sexual Harm Prevention Order.
- Requirements: 6 days of rehabilitation activities; One-to-one probation supervision.
- Judicial Oversight: Sentenced at Exeter Crown Court following investigations by Kent Police and Devon and Cornwall Police.
- Criminal Record: Attempting to meet a child following grooming; Breach of SHPO.
- Origin: Warren Road, Torquay, Devon (formerly Cedar Gardens, Stockbury, Sittingbourne, Kent).
Monitoring and Public Protection
Allan is managed under Multi-Agency Public Protection Arrangements (MAPPA) in Devon. Due to the nature of his conduct in Maidstone, which involved using a mobility vehicle to transport “grooming kits” of alcohol and pornography to a park, his management is a priority for the Public Protection Unit. Authorities state that his history of immediate reoffending upon release necessitates frequent, unannounced home visits to ensure he is not using unauthorized digital devices to access dating apps or contact minors.
As a member of the Sex Offenders Register, Allan must comply with all notification requirements regarding his identity and residence. Authorities state that his transition from Kent to Devon does not exempt him from the “watchful eye” of the probation service. Any future attempt to access Grindr, acquire an unmonitored smartphone, or fail to disclose his digital activities in Torquay will result in immediate arrest and a significant return to the prison system.
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