AI chatroom apps used by Oxfordshire sex offender on phone

Benjamin Thompson, previously of Coombe Hill Crescent, Thame, was sentenced at Oxfordshire Crown Court for three breaches of a sexual harm prevention order (SHPO).

The court heard the 32-year-old pleaded guilty to the offences which were committed on January 9.

Thompson was made the subject of the order in January last year when he was given a suspended sentence for six counts of possession of an indecent images of children and one count of possession of a prohibitive image of a child.

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On the new offences Sandra Beck, prosecuting, told the court that Thompson’s offender manager had gone through the conditions of the SHPO with him.

The barrister said: “He knew he couldn’t delete history from his phone. He had used up all the storage on his phone in two months.”

The three breaches of the order were deleting apps and internet history, using online aliases and accessing X and an AI chatroom app called Chai Research.

Ms Beck said: “He was trying to wean himself off his addiction to child pornography by using AI chatrooms.

“The order had been explained to him on a number of occasions.”

Gareth James, mitigating, said: “He struggles to retain information.

“This didn’t cause a serious risk of harm or distress. He realises he should not have been behaving in this way.

“He needs rehabilitative work.”

Thompson was given an eight-month prison sentence, suspended for 12 months.

He must also complete 15 rehabilitation activity days and pay costs of £150.

The Judge said: “There will be no further charges.”