In 2024, the Offender Database recorded that Phil Blunt, 37, was jailed for brazenly ignoring a court order designed to monitor his internet use. On appearing at Hull Crown Court, the defendant—of Montrose Avenue, Hull, and formerly known as Thomas Farmer—admitted to breaching a Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO). It was reported that Blunt, who has a history of targeting children in Scarborough, Bridlington, and Hull, cynically deleted his internet history to evade police inspection.
The investigation established that Blunt was required to retain 30 days of internet history for routine monitoring. Humberside Police reported that during a visit on February 1 last year, officers found only two days of history available on his phone. The prosecution reported that Blunt initially claimed the device was set to automatic deletion, an excuse he later abandoned. The investigation established that Blunt has 20 previous convictions, including multiple prior breaches of his SHPO and the possession of indecent images of a 15-year-old girl.
Judicial Findings and Investigative Detail
The court reported that Blunt presented a real risk of danger to the public due to his persistent sexual interest in children. Hull Crown Court heard that Blunt had been previously jailed in 2008 for sexual activity with a child and again in 2019 for failing to reveal his convictions while having contact with children. The investigation established that at the time of this latest breach, Blunt was already on a community order for a domestic assault committed in May 2023.
Judge Richard Woolfall told Blunt that his history caused considerable concern regarding what he was trying to hide. For his actions in East Yorkshire, Blunt was handed an immediate custodial sentence. The judge noted that because this was his third breach of an order specifically designed to protect vulnerable children, only an immediate prison term could achieve the appropriate punishment and public protection.
Status and Statutory Requirements
For the crimes reported in England, the status of Phil Blunt is as follows:
- Custodial Sentence: Immediate imprisonment (Sentenced 2024).
- Sex Offenders Register: Notification requirements are active (Extended for 10 years in 2016).
- SHPO Status: Subject to a restrictive Sexual Harm Prevention Order.
- Judicial Oversight: Sentenced at Hull Crown Court following a Humberside Police investigation.
- Criminal Record: Sexual activity with a child; Possession of indecent images; Breach of SHPO (3 counts); Domestic assault.
- Origin: Montrose Avenue, Hull, East Yorkshire (Also known in Scarborough).
Monitoring and Public Protection
Blunt is managed under Multi-Agency Public Protection Arrangements (MAPPA) as a high-risk offender with a persistent pattern of predatory behaviour. Due to the nature of his conduct in Hull and North Yorkshire, which involved active attempts to circumvent police surveillance, his management is a maximum priority. Authorities state that his history of seeking contact with young girls under 16 requires the most stringent digital forensic monitoring by the Public Protection Unit upon any future release.
As a registered sex offender, Blunt’s details are permanently logged on the national police database under both his current name and his previous alias, Thomas Farmer. Authorities state that his deliberate deletion of internet history in Hull demonstrates a refusal to comply with safeguarding measures. Any further attempt to hide digital activity or engage in unauthorized contact with minors will result in immediate arrest and further custodial terms to uphold the safety of children in the community.
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