Neighbour is a convicted paedophile

[Abitlosttoday]

I have just found out that our close (proximity-wise) neighbour has been given a suspended sentence for looking at peadophilia online. His address, in the news report of court proceedings, is not our street but an address in a different town. However, it is him (there's a clear photo) and he has been living on our street with his partner for at least a year. I saw him a few days ago when he pulled his two dogs out of the way so I could pass with my kids. They're 4 and 7. (The kids, not the dogs!) I don't know what to think. It's a small street. I can see into his living room from mine. It's a small town too. His partner is my SIL's sister's boss. I don't know their names though - that's the level of familiarity. Just because my head is battered with half-term and I am exhausted, aibu to ask what your thoughts would be about this situation. All his crimes were online but some of the images were the worst sort.
We only know because another neighbour has a distant work connection to the guy. He may believe he has some anonymity here. I cried when I heard. I'm angry too. My head hurts, but that may also be because of this endless school break!

I am truly sorry to hear about your experience, but I can assure you that I have spent over a decade in this field and have always kept those in my remit on a very short leash with comprehensive risk management and multi agency working.

Well of course they should, but you and I both know it's not that easy. What if he was lovely, befriended you and then nonced up your kids how would you feel then? If you knew he was a nonce that would never happen!

I'm shocked he's still with his partner! I'd report the knowledge to the police, surely he's not allowed to live near kids, as I'm sure they're not allowed to live near schools?

Unfortunately, many of these offences are committed by family members, so it’s not always a question of befriending someone to gain access.

They house them near schools so members of the public can’t find them and target them. Had a relative in the police who said if the public knew how many paedophiles were near children they’d be stunned. It’s absolutely horrendous.

It's Sarah's Law the OP needs

Wrong law it's Sarah's Law.

Unless someone is on licence it’s virtually impossible to prevent this.

What nonsense! No-one is suggesting vigilantism - just making sure they protect the children. He has absolutely no right to keep his vile offences private and deserves to be shunned.

Just for info Sarah’s law (Google it) does allow you to find out if someone has a history of offending if a person has concerns. It’s not as strong as US Megan’s law but is a law worth knowing about and sharing.

I remember that case. Just shows the level of intelligence of a minority.

There was a similar case local to me a few years ago. Pedo hunters posted a vid online. Vigilante thought they got the right house and threw a brick thorough the window. It was the house next door.

You can talk to someone via 101 or local police station if you still have one, just so they are aware of the address in your street. I’m sure it’s a term of his suspended sentence that he keeps police ( or the court) informed of his resident address.
And a suspended sentence means if he commits another offence his sentence becomes prison time.
And as a pp said at least you know where he is.

I thank you for your service, but just know not everyone operates to that standard, a lot of lives get ruined because they aren't properly managed. I am far from impartial and I get very angry and upset that these people are allowed to go on and repeat(or worse) their action.

It will be a term of his notification requirement rather than his suspended sentence.

This is true, but I am talking about this specific case.

Honestly, they are on every street in every town. I think I’d prefer a convicted one as at least he’s on the radar of the police and he won’t want to do anything to breach his conditions as that’ll land him straight in prison.

I actually remember watching a C4 programme about how they are monitored, it seems to vary from force to force dependant on their case load. One bloke they were keeping an eye on was homeless and they found him very difficult to track. They eventually caught him going to the cinema to watch a kids film in the middle of the day with him making excuses as to why he was in a cinema where loads of kids would be😳

They do walk among us, we all have to keep any eye on each other and our children ❤️

As far as I know you can only use Sarah's law if your child is actually having contact with that person.

You can't use Sarah's law on random neighbours.

There's a convicted paedophile round the corner from me. I only know as I have a friend in the local police force. It's uncomfortable but at least you know. Can you tell your other neighbours with children?

She's obviously not going to ask him to babysit her children, so why the fretting and panicking? He minds his business, she minds hers...like they did before she found out.

His crime was child porn. Not snatching children off the street into his van. Once she does her normal of parenting and minding her children, life stays the same.

Publicly exposing him is not the answer. He has been dealt with, and will be monitored.

And all porn is disgusting in my opinion.

you are correct

It's not child porn, it's child sexual abuse and rape. Language is important.

I was just about to say similar.

At least you know where this pedophile is. It's the ones you don't know that are the problem. 1 in 6 I think it is.

I've cared for quite a few peadophiles over the years at work, some old, some disabled, some with mental health problems. Besides two the rest were incredibly charming and had I not known of their predatory nature and have had them as neighbours etc I'd have been shocked to discover they had sexual interests in children. So I don't trust many people with my kids. Had I not had that experience with these men then maybe I'd let my kids run around naked in the garden where neighbours could see etc because I'd never give it much head space that everyone is potentially a predator.

Maybe a police letter posted yearly saying "in this post code area x amount of people have been convicted of crimes regarding children. Please keep your children safe, appropriately clothed when playing outside even in your garden and do not share pictures of your children on open social media platforms" just to remind people how vulnerable all our kids are but without starting witch-hunts? (Maybe it's a terrible idea I'm really tired) but these threads highlight how we often forget they're always amongst us. But they are always lurking.

Not what you’re asking but what is wrong with his partner?! Is she into it too? Does she have no standards or boundaries? Or does she think he was stitched up and “innocent really”?!

I would contact the police to ensure he’s keeping them up to date about his address, my understanding is it’s mandatory for him to do this