Victor Valentine, a 29-year-old man from Cheltenham, England, has been issued a five-year Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO) that prohibits him from accessing incel forums and loitering near female restrooms. The order was granted by Cheltenham Magistrates' Court on Monday, despite Valentine not having been convicted of any sexual offenses.
Valentine, who describes himself as a misogynist and is a member of an online incel group, received the SHPO after repeatedly breaching the terms of previous Civil Orders. The order aims to protect the public by imposing restrictions on individuals deemed a threat.
Under the terms of the SHPO, Valentine is prohibited from using any computers or mobile devices that can access the internet unless specific conditions are met. These conditions include notifying the police VISOR team within three days of acquiring a device, registering it with the team, and ensuring that the device's internet history is never deleted. Additionally, the device's location and data must be available at all times. Valentine is limited to owning only one internet-connected device and is forbidden from registering accounts on incel-related chat rooms or forums. He must also make any internet-connected device immediately available for inspection by a police officer upon request.
The order further stipulates that Valentine is not permitted to enter, use, or loiter near any female toilets, changing rooms, or women-only spaces. The SHPO is effective until August 25, 2031, and any breach of its conditions could result in arrest and a maximum jail sentence of five years.
Detective Sergeant Paul Howell stated that Valentine is known for his misogynistic hostility and violence towards women. He expressed satisfaction with securing the SHPO, emphasizing that it serves as a preventative measure to ensure the safety of women and girls in the county. Howell added that the order is intended to limit Valentine's ability to further explore his ideology and will allow police to monitor his behavior in the community to reduce his risk of future offending. He also noted that tackling violence against women and girls is a priority for Gloucestershire Constabulary.