**Bridgend Woman Jailed for Repeated Breach of Child Protection Order**
A 30-year-old woman from Bridgend who was previously convicted for holding prohibited images of minors has once again been brought before the courts, after being found in possession of further illicit material. The defendant, Scarlett Lee, has been sentenced to two years and four months in prison, following breaches of a Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO) and sex offender registration requirements.
The case was heard at Cardiff Crown Court, where it emerged that Lee—who previously went by the name Scott Henwood prior to her transition—had not only returned to prohibited online activity but had also attempted to bypass key controls imposed after her initial conviction. The recent offences came to light while she was living in supported accommodation, where a staff member became concerned by the nature of content visible on her phone.
In testimony presented to the court, it was revealed that on 11th May last year, a support worker discovered a sexually explicit message on Lee’s phone during a routine check of her room. The concern was escalated to senior management, upon which Lee was directly questioned. During this interaction, she voluntarily displayed an animated sexual image of children on her computer, which prompted immediate police involvement.
Law enforcement subsequently carried out a search and confiscated several electronic devices from Lee’s possession, including a desktop tower. Prosecuting counsel Dominie Patel reported that forensic examination of the equipment uncovered a folder containing 80 graphic animated images. These files depicted adults engaging in illegal acts with children, a direct violation of Lee’s existing SHPO.
Following her arrest, Lee was released on bail. However, further infractions soon unfolded. In March this year, she again contravened the SHPO by using her new name, Scarlett Lee, to operate a YouTube account. This was in conflict with the court order, which required her to use only the name Scott Henwood, her name at the time of the order’s issuance. When questioned, Lee stated her belief that the authorities had updated the order to reflect her new legal name following her gender transition.
During sentencing, Recorder of Cardiff, Judge Tracey Lloyd-Clarke, expressed grave concern over Lee’s continuing disregard for the legal restrictions placed upon her. The judge highlighted Lee’s prior record, which included three previous breaches of the SHPO, and noted that she had only recently served an eight-month suspended sentence for related offences. Judge Lloyd-Clarke commented, “You have no regard for orders made by the court. You have a persistent interest in child abuse images, but you deny having a sexual interest in children or of understanding the SHPO.”
The defence, presented by Bethan Evans, detailed some of the personal challenges faced by Lee. It was submitted that she suffered from mental health difficulties including autism and bipolar disorder, had experienced significant bullying and isolation, and was further impacted by the loss of contact with her family following her transition. Nevertheless, the court considered the likelihood of rehabilitation to be minimal. The judge concluded, “There is no or little realistic prospect of rehabilitation.”
As part of the sentencing, Lee remains subject to indefinite notification requirements on the sex offender’s register and will continue to be bound by the terms of the SHPO, which places strict limits on her online activities and interactions.
This case underscores ongoing challenges faced by authorities in monitoring individuals convicted of online offences, and highlights the persistence of risk where court orders are repeatedly breached. It also brings to light issues relating to the management of vulnerable offenders in community accommodation, and the complexities arising from changes in identity post-transition when enforcing legal restrictions.
Lee’s case has drawn local attention in Bridgend and across Wales, adding to wider public debate around how to best protect children online and support the rehabilitation—and monitoring—of sex offenders within the justice system.