March sex offender sentenced after applying for police job

A registered sex offender who applied for a job in Cambridgeshire Constabulary’s payroll department has been sentenced.

Garry Hunt, 61, of Old Court Place, High Street, March, was convicted of indecent images offences in February 2010 at Peterborough Crown Court and placed on the Sex Offenders Register for life.

He was also handed an indefinite Sexual Offences Prevention Order (SOPO), giving police powers to monitor him and carry out unannounced visits at his home.

During a visit on 21 June last year he told an officer he was being considered for a job at the force.

Suspicious of Hunt’s application, the officer contacted the department who confirmed he was being considered after being put forward by a recruitment agency.

When his application was checked officers found he had failed to disclose his 2010 conviction with the recruitment agency.

Hunt was arrested on 5 August at his partner’s address in Longstanton when further offences came to light.

Officers found a Dell laptop which he had not notified police about, a breach of his SOPO. He was also found with several bank cards he had also failed to tell police about, a breach of his Sex Offenders Register notification requirements.

His laptop was examined and found to contain a total of 19 indecent images. He had also searched for indecent images online the day before he was arrested.

Hunt was sentenced to 38 weeks imprisonment, suspended for two years, and handed a six-year Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO) at Peterborough Crown Court last Thursday (12 September) after pleading guilty to making indecent images of a child, breach of his SOPO and failing to comply with Sex Offenders Register requirements. He was also found guilty of fraud by false representation in relation to failing to disclose his previous conviction.

DS Paul Stimpson said: “Hunt has demonstrated he still poses a threat to society and he hasn’t been rehabilitated.

“On top of this he showed a blatant disregard for the serious nature of his previous conviction, failing to mention it on a job application and ignoring the requirements of a strict court order.”

Anyone who is concerned someone may have been convicted of a sex offence, and could be posing a risk to someone, can apply for disclosure information through Clare's Law and Sarah’s Law.

For information and advice about child abuse, including sexual abuse, visit the force website: www.cambs.police.uk/childprotection.

Anyone who has concerns about child abuse should contact police on 101 (or report online at www.cambs.police.uk/report), children’s social care or the NSPCC. If a child is in immediate danger always call 999.