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?

If you read the full thread you'd have more idea of the 'facts' as lots in your comment is untrue and you'll find that out if you RTFT.

I wouldn't want anyone to commit a crime. Just to be knowledgeable. Forewarned is forearmed as they say.
Far better to be super cautious with who has access to your children.
I'm advocating to stay away from him not go picketing his house.

Bit of rationale

I think a lot of them dissociate the pictures from real kids whom they'd never dream of harming. Indeed there's plenty of adult porn use in the same way.

We had possibility of same n the event he didn't move in as the private landlord's agent rescinded approval for a tenancy.

Concluded that if the action is dissociative as above then sitting at his computer jerking off over pictures, however horrible they are, he's probably no threat.

Former colleague who was a Magistrate said the amount of court time spent on indecent pictures of children had to be seen to be believed.

What a stupid, fatuous comment.

I am sure it has been said plenty but just adding it again. Please don't use the phrase 'child pornography'. It is child sexual abuse images. The use of 'pornography' diminishes the depravity of the crime. And yes he is a cunt obvs.

Paedophiles should not be "released into the community" as they are a threat to children. The safety of children should take priority over the "human rights" of convicted paedophiles.

But they are harming children. That's why just being in possession of it is a crime. I don't care how they rationalise it to themselves, they are nasty, vile, criminals and there is no excuse.

I wouldn't be "friendly" with him any more.

I wouldn't allow my GC to "play" out in the street (eg with other kids when older).

I wouldn't allow them to play in a paddling pool in my garden.

But I would still encourage them to play out in my garden and home when they visit. I may plant a few more screening plants to reduce sightlines to my garden.

My GC wouldn't have any unsupervised contact with a neighbour so this wouldn't change anything.

He may well move away, but will have to live somewhere. Likely near some children. Keeping them safe is the priority.

Unfortunately demand requires supply and the abuse of real children being abused and sometimes being directed by the viewer is all too common.
How anyone (men) can watch the suffering of children is beyond me.

I would honestly move. Yanbu.

To magic unicorn land where there are no people accessing CSAM?

Where is that?

I suggest that you make a Sarah’s Law request for information https://www.police.uk/rqo/request/ri/request-information/sarahs-law/information/v1/sarahs-law-child-sex-offender-disclosure-scheme/

Do you have a pedo living 2 doors down as well?

How horrible. A leopard never changes its spots. I don't think there is a cure for that, they shouldn't be living a normal life amongst families and communities.

I probably wouldn't say anything to him, don't think I'd have the nerve. I read recently half of all men in prison are in there for sexual offences.

There will be his type living everywhere, who we don't know anything about. I remember when a child my parents knew of one, though it never went to Court or anything, back then unless you were warned by word of mouth, no Internet, many of them could hide in plain site with most people being unaware of who they really were.

Reported. Disgraceful.

Very likely yes, considering the sheer number of men accessing CSAM.

I'll ask again, where do you think anyone should move to where there isn't that risk?

And how to assess it or be sure?

Because going to jail for arson will help the situation.

And I'll reply again... If I had knowledge that they were a pedo then I'd move based on that knowledge. I wouldn't just go oh well, pedos are everywhere, it could happen again so nevermind, won't bother just in case.

The point is that he’s a known risk, and therefore avoidable. There could be others close by posing an even bigger risk that op doesn’t know about.

No argument with that, another poster made a similar point.

However if people are worried about their own children my disassociation point has mileage I think.

Sarah's law just doesn't give out information about neighbours who are never alone with the children in question.

It's for people where there is a potential specific risk to specific children so e.g a single Mum with a new partner.

And the OP doesn't need information from the Police anyway as it's in the local paper.

Move.

You likely know a few of these dirty bastards but are not aware of it.

They are everywhere!!

Name changed for this.

We found there is one not too far from us.... He has a partner and had a baby with her (she knew about the situation and her being pregnant at the time likely contributed to the sentence being suspended). She also has a child from a previous relationship living in the same house...
Honestly, we were sicknened.
The news broke out in the local Facebook group and his partner was all over it defending him.
They live in a semi so it must be awful for people joined onto them, especially if they have kids.

Like it or not, he isn't a known risk of abusing OPs children. He's a known risk of viewing CSAM, not a known risk of contact offending.

And his conviction and the restrictions he's under now will reflect that assessment.

It's abhorrent of course but doesn't mean he's a direct risk to DC in his vicinity which is what was said by the senior Police officer in the link I provided upthread.

https://news.npcc.police.uk/releases/the-scale-of-child-sexual-abuse-means-we-cannot-solely-prosecute-our-way-out

Exactly, there is no point in moving as your new ndn could be one.

You just have to be careful with your children, as I assume that you would be anyway.