A 29-year-old man described by police as having misogynistic views and posing a risk to women has been banned from entering or loitering near female public toilets and other women-only spaces under a S3xual Harm Prevention Order.
Victor Valentine, from the St Paul’s area of Cheltenham, United Kingdom, was handed the order at Cheltenham Magistrates’ Court on August 24, despite not having been convicted of a s3xual offence.
The court heard that Valentine is a self-proclaimed misogynist and a member of an online incel group, and has a history of unprovoked violence towards women in public. He has also repeatedly breached the terms of several civil orders imposed on him.
A S3xual Harm Prevention Order is designed to protect the public from s3xual harm by restricting the behaviour of people considered to pose a risk. Under the order, which remains in force until August 25, 2031, Valentine is prohibited from using a computer or other internet-enabled device unless he complies with a series of conditions imposed by police.
He must notify the police VISOR team within three days of obtaining any device and register it with them. The device must be capable of retaining and displaying internet-use history, with the history retained and no data deleted. Location services must also remain enabled, with no location data deleted, and Valentine must make the device available for inspection by police when requested. He is prohibited from possessing more than one internet-enabled device at any time.
The order also bans Valentine from having a registered guest or alias account on a specified incel website or on any other online platform, forum, chatroom or application that promotes or facilitates incel-related ideology or content. He is further prohibited from entering, using or loitering near a female public toilet, changing room or female-only space for any reason.
Breaching the conditions could result in his arrest and a maximum prison sentence of five years. Detective Sergeant Paul Howell of Gloucestershire Constabulary’s Public Protection Unit said: “Valentine is well-known for his misogynistic hostility and violence towards women, and we are pleased to have secured this SHPO against him.
“Even though Valentine has not been convicted of any s3xual offences, this is a preventative measure to keep women and girls in the county safe from harm. This order will reduce Valentine’s ability to further explore his ideology and gives police the opportunity to monitor his behaviour in the community to help reduce his risk of further offending.
“Tackling violence against women and girls (VAWG) is a priority for Gloucestershire Constabulary and we will do all we can to prevent crimes, bring offenders to justice, and protect women and girls.”