Milkman Escapes Jail Term but Fails to Adhere to Court Orders
A milkman from Porthcawl named Stephen Ricketts narrowly avoided imprisonment after engaging in inappropriate online conversations with an individual he believed to be a 13-year-old, who turned out to be a decoy set up by paedophile hunters. However, not long after being spared a jail sentence, Ricketts was found to be violating the terms of his suspended sentence.
In June 2023, Ricketts received a suspended 8-month prison sentence for 24 months after confessing to attempting to engage in sexual communication with a minor. During the trial at Cardiff Crown Court, it was revealed that the 54-year-old had exchanged messages with an undercover account posing as a 13-year-old, where he even sent a lewd photo of himself and requested explicit images in return.
Despite the prohibition on deleting his internet history as part of his sentence, when the authorities visited his residence in January, they observed him using an unregistered mobile phone. This led to suspicions that he may have been tampering with evidence. Ricketts claimed he used a voice control feature for internet searches that did not save history, but further investigations uncovered another undisclosed mobile phone in his possession. These actions put him in violation of his notification obligations.
Acknowledging the breaches, Ricketts pleaded guilty to two infractions of a sexual harm prevention order and failing to comply with notification requirements. His defence lawyer, Rose Gladwell, contended that his actions were borne out of disarray and emotional turmoil rather than deliberate criminal intent. She emphasised that Ricketts understood the gravity of the restrictions imposed on him and acknowledged the need for adherence.
Gladwell elaborated that the acquisition of the new phone was a result of a car accident where Ricketts temporarily misplaced his initial device. She shed light on the challenges he faced in his personal life, citing past traumas he was coming to terms with and the demanding nature of his job. Despite his vulnerabilities and isolation, she highlighted his willingness to confront his issues head-on.
At the sentencing, Judge Richard Kember considered Ricketts’ circumstances, noting his homelessness, severed family ties, and health challenges including arthritis, anxiety, and depression. However, the judge also underscored Ricketts’ assessed propensity for endangering children and a history of attempting to deceive authorities. Consequently, Kember deemed Ricketts as a continuing risk of flouting court orders and decided to activate part of his previous suspended sentence along with an additional term, amounting to 14 months in prison.
Ricketts’ lawyer’s plea for another suspended sentence based on his compliance with probation obligations since the first conviction was not upheld. The judge’s decision reflected the gravity of Ricketts’ actions and the potential for reoffending if not incarcerated. The case serves as a cautionary tale of the consequences of disregarding legal constraints and the repercussions of failing to uphold court-mandated directives.
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