A registered sex offender is back behind bars after threatening a BBC radio presenter and breaching a strict court order that prohibited him from deleting messages on his phone without permission.
Michael James, aged 57, has convictions for sexual offences dating back to 1993 – including against children – and been subject to multiple Sexual Harm Prevention Orders.
In April 2021, he was jailed for two-and-a-half years for sending his probation officer a video of a sex act and committing an act outraging public decency at a bus stop in Nottingham.
Upon his release, he was made subject of a prevention order with 11 strict conditions, with one stating he “must not delete any electronic messages from any electronic communication device without the express permission of a representative of the Chief Constable for the respective police area”.
On November 21 last year, officers visited his address after it was reported he had sent a threatening and offence message into BBC Radio Nottingham that had been racially aggravated and aimed at one of the station’s presenters.
He was arrested and taken into custody, where checks found he had deleted a number of WhatsApp messages sent to the radio station from his device.
James, of Frobisher Gardens, Daybrook was subsequently charged with sending a communication threatening death or serious harm and breaching a Sexual Harm Prevention Order.
He pleaded guilty to both offences and was jailed for 40 weeks after appearing at Nottingham Crown Court on Tuesday (17).
Sergeant Elizabeth Williams, of Nottinghamshire Police, said: “James has an appalling criminal record and had multiple spells behind bars.
“As a result, he is on the sex offenders register for life and made subject of a Sexual Harm Prevention Order, which are designed to protect the public from individuals like James.
“As he has just found out to his cost, these orders have real teeth, and the courts take a very dim view of those who flout them in any way.
“The judicial system has also made it clear that the right to freedom of expression does not extend to sending grossly offensive and threatening messages and the abuse James subjected the presenter to was simply unacceptable.
“I am pleased James is back behind bars and he should be in no doubt about what will happen to him if he commits any further offences of this kind in the future.”
