Gillingham sex offender jailed after creating multiple dating profiles and breaching court order
He pleaded guilty to attempting to cause a girl to engage in sexual activity in 2018
A convicted Medway sex offender who breached the terms of a Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO) has been jailed.
Ian Collard, formerly of Station Road, Gillingham, downloaded banned apps and set up online dating profiles despite being forbidden to do so.
Collard, 34, became the subject of a SHPO after pleading guilty to attempting to cause a girl to engage in sexual activity in 2018.
The court order included conditions that he must not access the internet without informing the authorities and must make any devices available for inspection by officers when asked.
The SHPO also stated that the offender must not use any form of social media, dating apps or dating websites; install any app capable of automatically deleting messages or making messages disappear, or contact any person without their expressed consent.
Following a routine visit by officers, Collard was found to be in breach of the court order.
An examination of his mobile phone uncovered prohibited activity, including that he had downloaded Snapchat and was using several different aliases for various dating app profiles.
Collard was arrested on 17 May 2024 and charged the same day with seven breaches of the SHPO and three breaches of the Sex Offenders’ Notification Requirements.
He pleaded guilty and on Friday 14 March 2025 at Maidstone Crown Court, was sentenced to three years in prison.
PC Leona Valsler said: ‘Sexual Harm Prevention Orders are put in place so that vulnerable people can be protected from predatory behaviour by criminals such as Collard.
Collard ignored the conditions placed upon him and persisted in attempting to use social media as a way to make contact with potential victims.
I’m pleased he has received a custodial sentence and hope it serves as a reminder that our investigators - who regularly carry out checks on convicted offenders - will hunt down anyone who breaches legislation and will bring them before the courts to face justice.’