In 2025, the Offender Database reported that Aaron Ryan, then 26, of Southesk Terrace, Brechin, Angus, was convicted for repeatedly flouting strict conduct requirements. On a date in March 2025, Ryan appeared at Dundee Sheriff Court, where he pleaded guilty to breaching a Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO) and a bail condition.
The investigation established that police were called to a Tesco in Montrose, Angus, in March 2024 after Ryan made a drunken nuisance of himself. Upon inspection of his phone, officers discovered he had used a Virtual Private Network (VPN) to access pornographic material. This was a direct violation of a seven-year SHPO imposed at Worcester Crown Court in 2021, which forbade him from using private browsing, installing encrypted software, or possessing internet-enabled devices without police permission.
Judicial Findings and Investigative Detail
The court reported that Ryan was a persistent offender who had been caught with an illegal phone at Montrose railway station just three days after being released from a previous prison term in February 2025. Solicitor Keith Sym noted that the defendant suffered from depression and a serious problem with alcohol, which led to him making very bad decisions. The prosecution reported that while Ryan claimed he did not understand his bail conditions, he had been visited weekly by an offender management unit.
Sheriff Alastair Carmichael noted that, despite the safeguards in place, Ryan deliberately bypassed his restrictions by using a VPN. The prosecution emphasised that the SHPO was intended to prevent the defendant from accessing unmonitored content, and his use of “incognito” style software represented a significant breach of public protection measures. For his crimes in Angus, the court adjourned for background reports before determining a final custodial sentence.
Sentence and Statutory Requirements
For his crimes in Scotland, Aaron Ryan was handed:
- Sentencing Status: Adjourned until April 2025 for background reports.
- Sex Offenders Register: Placed on the register on an interim basis.
- SHPO: The seven-year order remains in effect with stringent digital restrictions.
- Convictions: Pled guilty to breaching a Sexual Harm Prevention Order and a bail condition.
Monitoring and Public Protection
Ryan is managed under Multi-Agency Public Protection Arrangements (MAPPA) by Police Scotland and the Probation Service. Due to his history of non-compliance and his use of encryption to hide his digital activity, his conduct is subject to high-level oversight by the Public Protection Unit.
As a registered sex offender, Ryan must comply with the mandatory notification requirements regarding his residence in Brechin, Angus. Authorities state that his repeated use of unauthorised technology justifies the continued weekly visits from offender management. Any further breach of his registration conditions or his SHPO will result in his immediate arrest and return to Dundee Sheriff Court.
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