Jude Maruska, a 23-year-old convicted paedophile from Worcester, has been sentenced to 44 months in prison after breaching a Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO) by using Snapchat to ask a teenage girl for sexual images. The case highlights the ongoing efforts by West Mercia Police to monitor registered sex offenders and bring them to justice when they re-offend.
Background of the Offender
Maruska, of Lingmell Court in Worcester, was originally made subject to an SHPO in August 2024 following similar offences. The order imposed strict conditions, including a ban on using any application that does not retain its usage or history – a measure designed to prevent secret communications with minors. Despite this, Maruska downloaded Snapchat onto his mobile phone, a platform known for its disappearing messages.
Discovery and Investigation
During a routine visit by officers from West Mercia Police’s Management of Sexual Offenders and Violent Offenders (MOSOVO) team last month, it was discovered that Maruska had installed Snapchat. An analysis of the phone revealed that he had been contacting a teenage girl between May and June 2025, asking her to send sexual images. Further investigation uncovered a second girl he had also contacted.
Detective Inspector Colin Berry of South Worcestershire CID said: “We are pleased to get a custodial sentence for Maruska who continued to offend, breaching the terms of his SHPO and despite being on suspended sentence. We hope this result shows our work to manage offenders is effective in monitoring their behaviour and that we will not hesitate in bringing them back before the courts to face justice if they do re-offend.”
Court Proceedings and Sentence
Maruska was charged on 22 June 2025 and admitted the offences. At Worcester Crown Court on Monday 27 July 2025, he was convicted of two counts of breaching an SHPO, for which he received concurrent sentences of 20 months each. He also received a consecutive sentence of six months for one count of causing or inciting a girl aged 13 to 15 to engage in sexual activity (non-penetration). In addition, a previously suspended sentence was activated, adding another 18 months consecutively, bringing the total to 44 months imprisonment.
He was also ordered to pay a victim surcharge of £228, and his mobile phone was confiscated. The total sentence equates to three years and eight months behind bars.
Police Statement and Community Impact
A spokesperson for West Mercia Police added: “A paedophile who contacted a teenage girl on Snapchat asking for sexual pictures of her was sent to prison for three years and eight months at Worcester Crown Court on Monday. Jude Maruska, 23, of Lingmell Court, Worcester, was already subject to a Sexual Harm Prevention Order for similar offences which he breached several times to contact his victim.”
The case underscores the importance of rigorous monitoring of sex offenders in the community. West Mercia Police’s MOSOVO team conducts regular unannounced checks on registered offenders to ensure compliance with court orders. This proactive approach aims to protect vulnerable individuals and prevent further offending.
Conclusion
Maruska’s sentence sends a clear message that breaches of SHPOs will be dealt with severely. The combination of a long custodial term, confiscation of devices, and financial penalties reflects the seriousness of his actions. For the victims and the wider community, this case demonstrates the commitment of law enforcement to pursue justice and maintain public safety.
