LIFELONG restrictions have been put in place to constrain a convicted sex offender, including his future use of the internet, after meeting his last two victims online.

Mark Tweddle was branded as “dangerous” after being convicted of the rape of a woman who he befriended on a dating and chat app.

The 38-year-old defendant denied raping the woman, claiming they had consensual sex after meeting at his home for drinks.

But a jury at Newcastle Crown Court believed his victim, who said she felt “violated” by Tweddle, after he raped her when she dozed off, abusing her while she slept.

The former soldier, of St Agathas Close, Brandon, was found guilty after a trial and was jailed for nine years, in November.

As Judge Edward Bindloss said he considered the defendant poses a danger to women of future offending, he passed an extended sentence, which means Tweddle must serve two-thirds of the sentence behind bars, and then be subject to eight years extended licence period.

The court heard the rape offence took place while Tweddle was only six-months into his release on licence following a 45-month prison sentence for exchanging sexual messaging with a 13-year-old girl he met via Snapchat.

He also sent her a video of himself performing a sex act and then persuaded her to meet him, which she did do, but accompanied by members of her family.

Tweddle was also made subject of a Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO) for that offence, which he breached by entering into a relationship with a mother-of-four and having unsupervised contact with those children.

Following his conviction in November, the Crown has given consideration to a new SHPO to add extra restrictions over his future use of the internet.

Christine Egerton, for the Crown, told a hearing at the court yesterday that the ten draught terms prevent Tweddle from seeking a job where he might come into contact with children, while he can only use social media platforms if he uses his full name with no aliases or informs police of any alias name and any password he may be using.

He is also forbidden from living at any address where children under 16 may by present, without the knowledge and consent of social services for that area

David Lamb, for Tweddle, made no objection to the terms of the new order, given that there was no restriction on him using any social media platform, providing he uses his correct and full name.

Judge Bindloss, therefore, agreed to put in place the new SHPO, which he said was “necessary” due to the “risk” posed by Tweddle, to protect the public, but, “proportionate”, in not entirely prohibiting him using the internet in future.

Both the new order and notification requirements as a sex offender, are “indefinite”, which means for life, and replace the previous order in full.

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