Newtown, Powys man given second suspended prison sentence

Callum Abbott, 24, now has the weight of two suspended prison sentences hanging over him after he was spared immediate custody by Mold Crown Court on Monday, November 11.

Abbott, described as a risk to underage girls, breached a sexual harm prevention order (SHPO) and failed to comply with the sex offenders register earlier this year, by communicating on hundreds of occasions with an underage teen girl between April 11 and June 3.

Those orders formed part of Abbott’s punishment received in August 2022 for engaging in non-penetrative sexual activity with a girl aged 14.

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It was discovered he had ‘kissed and cuddled’ the girl in Warrington and had booked a hotel room for them both.

Judge Simon Mills said Abbott "didn’t like the wording of the orders so he didn’t comply".

“It is not for an offender do decide which parts of the order he wants to comply with," he added.

“You decided that orders shouldn’t apply to you because you thought they were unjust."

Abbott received a suspended prison sentence in August this year when he breached the SHPO by being in a tent with a woman in Newtown on August 3 when there was a child present.

A 16-month jail sentence was imposed at Swansea Crown Court, but suspended for two years.

Prosecutor Karl Scholtz said Abbott had also stayed at an address in Newtown other than the one he had registered with police.

Abbott’s offending came to light when a care home employee contacted police and told them a girl in their care had been communicating with the defendant.

“A check of his device revealed the defendant had contacted her 276 times, while there had been a total of 379 communications,” said Mr Scholtz.

“He was arrested and said he knew about the sexual harm prevention order and the notifications. He said the child had messaged him and he did not respond.

“He claimed he did not understand the requirements of the orders as he is dyslexic. In a later interview he claimed he did not remember the previous interview and had been under the influence of substances.

“He blamed the whole situation on being in a scary place. He said he could not remember making the calls to the girl.”

Mr Scholtz said Abbott’s offending had resulted in an original two-year community order being upgraded to a suspended sentence.

Abbott clutched rosary beads during the videolink hearing, having been arrested for failing to show up for his original sentencing on November 2.

Rosemary Proctor, defending, called Abbott a “vulnerable individual”.

“There is no suggestion he sought out the child in question in order to communicate sexually with her, or that it was sexual communication,” said Ms Proctor.

“It is suggested the contact was made by her. You will see glimpses of the vulnerabilities he has, which have arisen from childhood trauma. At the time of these offences his mother had just died.”

Judge Mills told Abbott he had been in custody after failing to show up for court.

"That is what happens to people when they decide not to come to court and when they’ve got an utterly pathetic excuse," he said.

“I accept you weren’t sexually motivated in your contact with her, but you should have obeyed your order. You were out of control."

Abbott received a 20-month jail sentence, suspended for 18 months, for breaching the SHPO, with six months concurrently for breaching the notification requirement.

It will be served consecutively to the 16-month suspended sentence handed to Abbott at Swansea Crown Court in August – meaning he faces three years in prison if he offends again.

Another 28 days was added concurrently for failing to attend the original sentencing.

Abbott must wear an alcohol tag for 120 days, accept a 12-week curfew and complete 15 rehabilitation days.