My neighbour is a convicted paedophile

[Obviouslyneedtonamechange]

I've just found out from another neighbour that the man two doors down, who we chat to regularly and are friendly with, has been convicted of horrific child pornography charges. Like, the worst. It's really thrown me, I have a two year old and a four year old and I want them to be able to play in their garden without worrying about him watching or worse.
We live on a really small street which the name of was reported in the local paper so I am also a bit worried about potential vigilante type actions. I am obviously hoping he moves away (his marriage has collapsed so I'm hoping he financially has to) but no sign of that yet. Incredibly he got a suspended sentence, what a joke. Am I unreasonable to feel like I want to move?! What do I do?

At least you know it would be more dangerous if you didn't, all you can do is keep out of his way.

I don’t get this “there are paedophiles everywhere, at least you know about this one” argument.

It is true that they hide in plain sight, but you surely go with risk. This person is a proven, convicted risk to children. So he should be identified and treated as such.

Imagine two neighbours’ houses with a dog each. One’s an XL bully who attacked someone before, the other is a similar sized, mix breed dog whom you have no knowledge of but doesn’t seem aggressive. Which one does your brain think is more dangerous? The same goes for people. Yes, the mix breed dog might attack one day, but you know the other is a risk.

Then what ?
He moves somewhere else ,where there is also children?
At least where he is now everybody is aware and hopefully appropriate checks and safe guards are in place
As abhorrent as it is he does have to.live somewhere and knowing about him is better than not knowing about him.

Have you learned nothing about fully digesting before you post?

I said nothing about actually passing the information on.

As an aside, though, those convictions were for - surprise - actually inciting violence - for eg calling for hostels to be firebombed.

Since the details are already public, passing on that information is perfectly within the law.

Makes you sick doesn't it? How people are rallying around being nice to him, when it's because he's done that!!!

I would be moving. Paedos are everywhere though. People don’t realise how common it is

Which one does your brain think is more dangerous?

With regards to adults being alone with your children, your brain shouldn't be telling you that one is safer than the other, because it can't possibly know that.

Ditto your child being alone around dogs.

If you feel like you need to say something then be direct and calm with him. Tell him you know what he is and what he has done and you want him nowhere near you or your family. Tell him you do not want him approaching or engaging with your kids in any way. I understand how violated you must feel, this person is a monster.

However, unfortunately, you cannot make him move. All you can do is be hyper vigilant and make your children aware that he is not to be approached.

100%!!!

I was more referring to what someone could do from afar - taking photos, watching them, filming etc. The overall risk.

I’d never trust any unknown person with unsupervised contact with my child, absolutely correct on that. 👍🏼

You said...

"I think I would have to tell him that if he doesn't move out within three months you'll be letting 'the local community' know."

Which is a direct threat and you know it.

That's a terrible idea. Sex offenders are monitored and doing something like this forces them underground where they can't be observed. At least the OP knows, if he's forced into hiding people around him won't know and he'll be able to reoffend.

Unfortunately some posters are more concerned with waving the pitchfork rather than considering the consequences that their own actions could have. Happens every single time on these posts.

Just tell him you won't be talking to him anymore and why.

That's all you can do.

And PP are correct, they're everywhere and forcing people out of communities makes them go underground and that makes them more dangerous.

It was obviously in the local press.

The thing that annoys me most about this and similar cases is that he should be in prison.

Say nothing, do nothing, completely ostracise him and hopefully if enough of you do that he will leave of his own accord.

They didn’t know.

Edited to say I think I misread your post.

Vigilantism is a crime. If he’s served his sentence and been released, he has to live somewhere.

I think you just need to hugely vigilant until he leaves and report anything at all suspicious (hanging around where whildren are, for example) to the police.

Which would be a very immature and irresponsible thing to do. What he has done is utterly vile and of course children need to be protected from him. But encouraging hatred and vigilantes won’t help anyone. Have you seen the news when other people have done similar things?
You could also possibly be charged yourself.
As vile as it is, there are abusers living amongst us. Pushing people underground and to move to areas where they will not be known does nothing to reduce risk.

Move. I would, as soon I was able.
If you must say something, calmy tell him you know what he is and will have nothing further to do with him. No vigilante stuff.

I was about to say this. I wish people would stop using the term child pornography.

But OP, all you can do is avoid him, and keep your children away from him.

Has he been in prison? When did this happen? Just wondering why he’s lost his job only now.

This is madness. There are no guarantees the OP wouldn't relocate next to a similar individual.

I know people are saying that it's best that we know about it and if he moved then people wouldn't, but to be honest I don't want him near me or my family. I can't make him move, I know that, and I'm definitely not going to threaten him, but I will make sure everyone knows so he doesn't have any friends to create sob stories to while omitting to mention he's a horrific predator. I don't want him near my kids, seeing them out his window when they play in the garden. My two year old is the same age as some of the worst abuse photos. If I can help to ostracise him and that leads to him moving then I definitely will.