A SPECIALIST team which manages the risk posed by sex offenders has secured charges against three individuals across a week of action.

The management of sexual offenders and violent offenders team carried out unannounced home visits in Harlow and Basildon over the past week.

As a result of those checks, Anthony Banks, 43, of no fixed address, has been jailed for 24 weeks. Banks was charged with two counts of failing to comply with notification requirements and appeared at Southend Magistrates’ Court last Monday. 

Hassan El-Mahmoud, 23, of Cadet Drive, London, charged with four counts of breaching a Sexual Harm Prevention Order and three counts of failing to comply with notification requirements.

He was due to appear at Chelmsford Magistrates’ Court yesterday.

Adan Bath, 39, of Northbrooks, Harlow was also charged with three counts of breaching a Sexual Harm Prevention Order and one count of failing to comply with notification requirements.

He appeared at Chelmsford Magistrates’ Court last Monday and has been bailed until a hearing at Chelmsford Crown Court on May 13.

Detective Chief Inspector James Gray, of the management of sexual offenders and violent offenders team, said: “This type of work regularly goes on behind the scenes, out of public view, across Essex as we work to manage the risk posed by registered sex offenders.

“We conduct checks and keep track of their activity in line with restrictions imposed on them, working hard to keep people in Essex safe and ensure any alleged breaches are put before the courts.

“As part of the terms of many sentence orders, registered sex offenders are often ordered to comply with terms monitoring their use of electronic devices, who they can interact with and their access to certain internet platforms.

“Any alleged breaches of these orders, or the terms of their sentences, are treated very seriously.”

In the 12 months between April 2023 and April this year, the team secured 238 charges against alleged offenders in Essex.

The highly trained, plain clothes team work away from the public gaze and are vital to keeping the public safe from registered sexual and violent offenders.

This work includes monitoring and risk assessing of offenders prior to, and after, their release from prison to reduce the risk they pose.