Sex Offender returned to prison after attempting contact with child

A registered sex offender from Plymouth is jailed for breaching his court order following an investigation by the South West Regional Organised Crime Unit (SWROCU).

Scott Coombes, age 36, of Beaumont Road in Plymouth appeared before Plymouth Crown Court having pleaded guilty to two breaches of his Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO): deleting his mobile phone history and attempting sexual communication with a child with the intention of forming an inappropriate relationship. 

Coombes was arrested at his home address by officers from the SWROCU on 17 August after he began chatting online with what he thought was a child under 16 years old. 

Coombes has a history of committing child sex offences and was previously issued with an indefinite SHPO meaning he was subject to specific restrictions to prevent his reoffending. Today (2 October) he was jailed for two years. 

DI Dave Wells from SWROCU said: 

"There are serious legal consequences for breaching a SHPO and I am pleased to see the Judge hand down a custodial sentence to him today. 

"My team is across the internet seeking to identify and arrest offenders looking to sexually abuse or exploit children. We are committed to working tirelessly to bring prolific offenders like Coombes to justice.” 

As well as his custodial sentence, Coombes will be on the Sex Offenders' Register and will be ordered to comply with a SHPO indefinitely upon his release.