A CAERNARFON sex offender told probation officers he'd downloaded an encrypted chat app without telling police to 'discuss football.'

Paul Jones, of Glan Seiont, appeared at Caernarfon Crown Court on Friday morning to be sentenced.

The 43-year-old had admitted at a previous hearing that he breached his sexual harm prevention order (SHPO) in August this year.

Amy Edwards, prosecuting, told the court the defendant's SHPO prohibited him from deleting internet history and using software to encrypt or clean computer data unless authorised by the police.

In July this year, Jones informed the police he had a new mobile phone.

And when officers carried out a routine visit to his home on August 9, they looked at the device and found he had an encrypted chat app installed on it.

It enabled users to delete messages instantly, in breach of his order.
Richard Edwards, defending, he has the support of his partner and is her registered carer.

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"Football is his passion - he used to be a referee.

"People he was speaking to on Facebook about football told him about this app and that's how they discussed the games on TV."

Judge Timothy Petts noted the probation service had viewed that explanation with some scepticism - but the Judge, summarising the pre-sentence report for

Mr Edwards, also noted the defendant has some learning difficulties which would affect his culpability.

It was said that the offence was more of a 'lapse' in compliance than a deliberate breach.

Jones received a 12 month community order with 20 days of rehabilitation activity.