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Offender ordered not to contact young females

Offender ordered not to contact young females

Thursday 08 September 2022

Offender ordered not to contact young females

Thursday 08 September 2022


A man has been handed a three-year sexual offences prevention order by Guernsey's Royal Court following previous offences, and the evaluation that he still poses a risk to all girls, and women.

Joao Bruno Gomes, who did not seek legal representation, was told by Judge Catherine Fooks that the evidence against him was “compelling” and the order was “necessary”.

He was previously sentenced in 2020 to 160 hours of community service for smacking an underage girl on the bum and sending an indecent video in a Facebook message to another.

He is now legally prohibited from making any contact with females under the age of 16 in any place for the duration of the order. 

Crown Advocate Chris Dunford said that Gomes already agreed with the imposition of the order, its proposed length, and had “no opposition” to its attached conditions.

Gomes did not disagree with the “factual basis of the application” which were the contents of a recent probation report. 

Advocate Dunford claimed a prevention order was not applied for following Gomes’ previous offences “at the discretion of the probation officer”. However, since then he said the risks have “potentially increased”. 

A subsequent risk assessment led to the revised conclusion that he presents “a high risk” towards pubescent females. 

Judge Fooks added that there was no requirement for a prevention order to be made at the time of Gomes’ conviction.

Royal_Court_room_copy.jpg

Pictured: The application was made in the Royal Court.

Judge Fooks also said Gomes must stay in contact with his probation officer and follow their instructions, as well as allowing them to examine his electronic devices should they wish to. 

Gomes questioned whether he would be committing an offence if he breached any of the conditions. Judge Fooks confirmed that breaches could result in a 12-month prison sentence or a fine of up to £10,000. 

If a serious breaching offence was heard in the Royal Court, she said imprisonment could total five years, or result in an unlimited fine.

Pictured top: Guernsey's court building.

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