A sex offender who persisted in making contact with potential victims to indulge his “vile behaviour” has been jailed.

Brandon Coleman, of Burma Way in Chatham, spent unsupervised time with children and used electronic devices to access the internet despite having a Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO).

The 22-year-old had been given the order after being convicted of making indecent images of children in October 2021.

The strict conditions of the court order meant he should not have any contact with juveniles unless certain restrictions were in place.

It further banned him from using any devices capable of accessing the internet or storing digital images without informing the authorities and any that he did possess should be available for inspection by the police when asked.

The SHPO also ordered Coleman not to use any form of software capable of deleting internet history or making messages disappear.

Despite this, concerns were raised he was not complying with the order and an investigation found him to be in breach of it. He was arrested on October 16, 2024.

An examination of his mobile phone uncovered that he had downloaded Snapchat and was using several different online aliases.

He was charged and pleaded guilty to making an indecent image, failing to comply with notification requirements for the sex offender register and multiple breaches of a SHPO.

At Maidstone Crown Court on April 8, Coleman was sentenced to two and half years in prison.

PC Leona Valsler said: “We use Sexual Harm Prevention Orders to protect vulnerable people from predators such as Coleman.

“Despite having clarified that he understood the terms of the court order, Coleman chose to ignore the opportunity he had to abide by them, and to change his ways.

“Instead, he persisted in attempting to make contact with potential victims, and indulging his vile behaviour.

“I hope that the custodial sentence that Coleman has received sends a clear message to offenders: anyone who breaches legislation will be pursued and will be made to face the consequences of their actions.”