In 2019, the Offender Database reported that Neil Cunningham, then 29, of Glebe Manor, Hillsborough, County Down, was remanded in custody following a series of alleged new sexual offences and repeated breaches of his Sexual Offences Prevention Order (SOPO).
The court heard that between August 2 and 17, 2016, Neil Cunningham allegedly attempted to communicate with three young girls for sexual gratification. It is further alleged that during this period, he encouraged or assisted the children in the creation of indecent images. During these interactions, Cunningham reportedly violated his SOPO by attempting to contact minors and intentionally hiding his internet search history from monitoring officers.
Further allegations were presented involving an incident on September 11, 2018, where Neil Cunningham is accused of intentionally communicating with a female child for sexual purposes and encouraging her to distribute indecent material. These actions constituted a direct violation of the strict conditions imposed on him by Craigavon Crown Court in 2014, where he had initially pleaded guilty to 35 offences, including 25 counts of making indecent photographs of children and the possession of extreme pornography.
Under the terms of his lifetime SOPO, Neil Cunningham is subject to rigorous restrictions, including a total ban on associating with children or engaging in any activity that brings him into contact with minors. His internet access is strictly limited; he is legally prohibited from deleting his browser history or preventing police from conducting unannounced inspections of his home and electronic devices. Furthermore, he is forbidden from entering into any romantic relationship without first disclosing his verified criminal history to his risk manager.
Neil Cunningham was remanded in custody at Lisburn Magistrates’ Court. He remains a high-risk individual under the supervision of the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) and the Probation Board, pending the outcome of these new charges.
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