Suffolk paedophile sent back to prison just weeks after being released
Officers found he'd become part of an online group for teenagers - breaching the conditions of his release
A Suffolk paedophile's been recalled to prison just weeks after he was released.
Justin Barrs, 25, was convicted of making indecent images of children five years ago and again in 2020.
As a registered sex offender, Barrs was bound by conditions upon his release from prison on 26 January this year.
This included presenting his mobile phone to Thorpe Wood Police Station, in Peterborough, the day after he moved to the county from Suffolk on 4 April.
Officers discovered Barrs had created three usernames for online chat sites and had purposely deleted the social media app SnapChat, which he had been using.
Barrs admitted he had been part of an online group for 13 to 19-year-olds and said, “I’m an idiot”.
Barrs, of Essendyke, Bretton, was immediately sent back to prison after being charged with three counts of failing to comply with notification requirements for the Sex Offenders Register and breaching a Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO).
On 3 August at Peterborough Crown Court, Barrs pleaded guilty to the charges and was sentenced to three years and four months in jail.
DC Jon Edwards said: “Protecting children and vulnerable people from harm is one of our top priorities and I am very pleased Barrs breaches of his release conditions were discovered so he could be brough back before the courts.
“I would urge parents and carers to talk to their children about the dangers of phones, social media and the importance of online safety.”