A mum who believed she had met a new partner she could trust was left devastated after discovering the man she had been seeing was a convicted child sex offender — a fact she only learned when police arrived at her home to question him.

William Gardner, from North Shields, is now back behind bars after breaching a Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO) and failing to comply with sex offender registration requirements. The case was first reported by ChronicleLive.

A Relationship Built on Lies

The court heard that Gardner began a relationship with the woman without ever disclosing his past — despite being legally required to inform police of any new intimate partner. Officers must be notified so they can assess whether a partner or their children may be at risk.

Instead, Gardner kept the relationship secret. The woman, who cannot be named for legal reasons, had no idea he was subject to strict monitoring conditions due to previous offences involving a child.

Police only became aware of the situation when routine checks revealed Gardner had been staying at her home without notifying officers, triggering an immediate safeguarding response.

What Gardner Was Required to Do

As a registered sex offender, Gardner was bound by a Sexual Harm Prevention Order — one of the most serious forms of post‑sentence monitoring available to UK courts. These orders are designed to tightly control the behaviour of high‑risk individuals.

Under the terms of his SHPO and registration requirements, Gardner had to:

• Inform police of any new romantic or sexual relationship
• Notify officers of any address where he stayed overnight
• Comply with restrictions on contact with children
• Follow rules around internet use and devices
• Attend regular check‑ins with public protection officers

Prosecutors told the court that Gardner failed to do any of these things, leaving his partner unaware of the risks and preventing police from carrying out essential safeguarding checks.

Police Intervention and Arrest

When officers attended the woman’s home, she was reportedly shocked to learn of Gardner’s background. Police immediately removed him from the property and began an investigation into the breaches.

A spokesperson for Northumbria Police said the force takes breaches of SHPOs “extremely seriously” and will always act swiftly when an offender attempts to hide their movements or relationships.

“These orders exist to protect the public,” the spokesperson said. “Anyone who tries to evade them will face robust action.”

Back Behind Bars

Gardner appeared before the courts where he admitted:

• Breaching a Sexual Harm Prevention Order
• Failing to comply with sex offender notification requirements

He was returned to prison to serve a custodial sentence for the breaches. The court heard that the woman he had been seeing was left distressed and felt deceived by his actions.

Why These Orders Matter

Sexual Harm Prevention Orders are used to manage offenders who pose a continuing risk. They allow police to monitor behaviour, restrict access to children, and intervene early if an offender begins to hide their movements.

Breaching an SHPO is a criminal offence that can carry a prison sentence of up to five years.

For more information on how SHPOs work, visit: GOV.UK – Sexual Harm Prevention Orders .

Advice for Anyone With Concerns

Members of the public who have concerns about a partner’s past can request information through the Child Sex Offender Disclosure Scheme, also known as “Sarah’s Law”.

Details are available via: Northumbria Police .

TrueNorth News will continue to follow updates on safeguarding cases and court proceedings across the North East.