A 22-YEAR-OLD has admitted sending an obscene message to a Dorset Echo reporter and has been released to a Weymouth probation hostel while he awaits sentencing.
Poole Magistrates Court heard how Harry Simmons was released from prison last month after serving time for sending grossly offensive messages.
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At the hearing on Thursday, Simmons, pleaded guilty to sending a message that was grossly offensive deemed indecent, obscene or menacing via Facebook - his sixth conviction of the same offence, the court heard.
The court heard the message was sent to a reporter between June 4 and 8.
Mitigating for Simmons, Aileen Tring, said Simmons had endured a troubled childhood.
She said: "He has been ping-ponging from various prisons for many years.
"He needs properly assessing to find out what is going on with this young man.
"He said he had been seriously abused when he was younger.
"Previous psychiatric reports did not properly assess and help him - he takes medication for depression."
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Ms Tring called for measures to be put place while he remains under care of probation services within the community.
"He should be assessed in the community along with helpful measures put in place to stop this cycle of offences," Ms Tring told the court.
Simmons was given conditional bail, and is banned from using a device with access to the internet until his next hearing in court.
He was ordered to attend all arranged meetings with probation and is not allowed to contact any members of staff from the Dorset Echo.
He will next appear at Weymouth Magistrates Court on July 22 for sentencing following a psychiatric report.
Chair of the bench Mike Davis said: "This is not rational behaviour for a young man.
"Prison is clearly not the answer.
"This is the sixth conviction with an offence of this nature.
"You will not be going back to prison, we are going to give you the benefit of the doubt, but if you commit another offence before appearing in court again - you will go to prison.
"You are to live and sleep according to what probation services tell you."
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