Roger Curtis, who was convicted of having indecent images of kids, breached a Sexual Harm Prevention Order by taking on the role, which would potentially put him into contact with youths
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A paedophile was back in court after he took up a role as a Covid-19 vaccine marshal in North Tyneside.
As previously reported on ChronicleLive, Roger Curtis was given a suspended sentence in 2021 after he downloaded more than 1,800 indecent images of children over a nine-year period. A court at the time heard that the vile photos involved children as young as two.
As part of his sentence, Curtis was also made subject of Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO), which banned him from taking on jobs, paid or otherwise, that would likely bring him into contact with anyone under the age of 18. However, last summer, he applied to become a volunteer at the Covid-19 vaccine rollout at Wallsend Memorial Hall.
Read More: Pervert snared sending explicit messages to young 'girls' online by vigilantes
Newcastle Magistrates' Court was told that Curtis failed to divulge his sordid past on the application form and he began the post in September 2021 and remained in it until January 2022. Prosecutors said that Curtis breached his SHPO as the volunteering role would have likely have put him in contact with youths getting the Covid-19 vaccine.
Curtis, of Monkstone Crescent, in Tynemouth, appeared in the dock this week to plead guilty to breaching a Sexual Harm Prevention Order. Greg Flaxen, prosecuting, said: "The case is about the defendant volunteering as a Covid-19 marshal at a vaccination centre.
"There must have been people there who were 16 or 17 years old being vaccinated at the time. When he filled in the form to be a volunteer, he didn't admit his previous conviction. He's currently on a suspended sentence order."
Annalisa Moscardini, defending, said Curtis simply hadn't seen a box he had to tick on the form if he had previous convictions. She added: "There's no ill intent here. He's made a mistake. He volunteered for something he thought would help. At the time, it was only 16 – 17-year-olds who had serious health complications who were getting vaccinated."
Curtis was fined £200 and must pay £85 costs and a £80 victim surcharge.
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