A FORMER hospital nurse has found himself back in court after he breached a sexual harm prevention order.

Richard Hewson was sentenced to a community order after he admitted breaching the court order.

The defendant had previously been convicted for making indecent images of children and possessing extreme pornographic images involving animals.

He admitted breaching the order and was sentenced at Preston Crown Court on Monday.

The court ordered Hewson, 45, of Ulverston Road in Dalton, to carry out 300 hours of unpaid work

Hewson was also ordered to attend a sexual offenders’ programme.

In February South Cumbria Magistrates’ Court imposed a sexual harm prevention order for five years following an application by Cumbria Police.

While the order was in force, the defendant was subject to a number of conditions.

He must not use any computer or device capable of accessing the internet without notifying the police offender management team within three days.

He was also banned from using a web browser’s ‘incognito’ mode and using remote storage that could store images without notifying police.

In 2017, Hewson, who formerly worked at Furness General Hospital, was struck off from the nursing profession.

The decision was made by the Nursery and Midwifery Council.

It came after he was handed a 12-month prison sentence suspended for two years and ordered to wear an electronic tag for three months after admitting.

Ruth Alabaster, for the NMC, told the hearing: “On February 22 last year police were called to Mr Hewson’s home following concerns about his welfare.

“Mr Hewson’s partner had found some pictures on his mobile phone and called the police.

“They seized his mobile phone and analysed the images.

“A series of still and moving pornographic images were discovered and he was charged with the offences.

“On 23 December 2016 he pleaded guilty to all five counts on the indictment.

“He acknowledged that his behaviour was profoundly wrong and his developing sexual interest needed addressing.

“Mr Hewson admits that his fitness to practise is currently impaired by reason of his misconduct.

“He has accepted that, in the past, and he is liable to do so in the future to bring the profession into disrepute.”

Miss Alabaster said a striking-off order was the only appropriate sanction to take.