A MAN handed Thames Valley Police’s first-ever violent offender tag has been jailed for three years after he was caught staying with a woman in a Premier Inn hotel.

Andrew Harding, formerly of Adwood Court, Thatcham, was slapped with the order in October 2020 but breached his new rules in April and June of this year.

He will spend at least a year-and-a-half behind bars after forming relationships with two women without telling police about them, a strict condition under his violent offender order (VOO).

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The 39-year-old, who has 17 convictions for 40 offences including wounding, has a “deeply unpleasant history of offending and behaviour”, a court heard.

After receiving his VOO in October 2020, Harding formed a relationship with a woman in Cambersands, Sussex and stayed with her until May 30.

They split up following an argument, however.

Reading Chronicle: Andrew HardingAndrew Harding

Harding then formed another relationship with a second woman in June of this year.

Police eventually located the Thatcham man in a Premier Inn in Barry, Wales, staying with the woman.

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As he did not tell the authorities about these relationships, he had breached the terms of his VOO, prosecutor Charlotte Oliver said.

She continued: “There’s no suggestion there was anything untoward in the relationships.

“[The second] woman googled Mr Harding, she said he was very nice to her and there was no violent side to him.

“She says she was the scary one in the relationship and he was very good to her son.”

Defending, Katie Williams acknowledged that Harding had a “deeply unpleasant history of offending and behaviour.”

However, she denied that “had it not been for the swift actions of the police, unpleasant actions would have occurred.”

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She continued: “He put his hands up for this. He held his hands up for breaches which were not immediately clear.

“Behind the individual is a man who is something more than what he is made out to be.

“There are elements of him beginning to change and look forward with introspection.

“Before these breaches he was becoming a more contributing member of society.

The defence counsel said he planned charity work, including a cycle from Vietnam to Cambodia to raise money for young people with cancer.

Ms Williams added: “He had something to lose and he lost it.”

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Sentencing, Her Honour Judge Nott told the court that Harding did not appear for a call with a supervisor in July.

She said: “That doesn’t give me any hope that you accept the VOO and its terms.

“You pose a risk to women and a high risk of harm to their children.

“Both sets of breaches are serious.

“You wrangled your way into each of these women’s lives knowing you were not entitled to do that.

“Each breach risked very serious harm because of your background.

“I judge you know that, which is why you didn’t let your point of contact know as they would be notified and your relationship would be over.

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“There was no actual harm caused [to the first woman]. In the case of [the second woman], you were set to maintain that relationship and the ongoing risk was plain and present for all to see. “

Judge Nott sentenced Harding to three years in prison after he admitted to three counts of breaching conditions in a violent offender order, and one count of failing to notify police of new information.

He will serve half this sentence in jail before being released on licence.

Harding was sentenced at Reading Crown Court on Wednesday, August 11.