‘Sex-ASBOs’ Bid To Counter Threat of 60 High-Risk Offenders Set Free

More than 60 of Scotland’s most dangerous sex offenders, freed from jail, have had emergency court orders placed upon them amid fears they will strike again. Rapists, paedophiles and other violent criminals have had sexual offences prevention orders (SOPOs) taken out against them to stop them approaching women and children, entering public parks and going near primary schools.

Other tough restrictions imposed include banning a convicted paedophile from going near public toilets, prohibiting others from crossing the local police-force boundary and using a car without notifying police.

Those subject to orders face regular police checks. If they are found breaking the rules, they can be arrested and held in custody. Several are currently in jail for breaching their orders. However, police admitted the offenders were not put under 24-hour surveillance.

Senior officers have told The Scotsman they are seeking more orders amid growing frustration at a justice system that allows highly dangerous, violent criminals back on the streets often with little or no safeguards in place.

They spoke out as the mother of an eight-year-old Glasgow boy murdered at the hands of paedophile Stuart Leggate appealed to MSPs to support her campaign for parents to be informed of the whereabouts of convicted sex offenders.

Margaret Ann Cummings, whose son Mark was killed two years ago, claimed he would still be alive had communities been given disclosure rights and said the justice system was not working.

While police do not support a so-called “Mark’s Law”, they share her frustration at the fact that violent offenders are being released from prison.

One senior officer said: “Frustration is a word that is being used more and more by police officers involved in monitoring and assessing the risk of sex offenders released from prison. People are still presenting a high risk when they are getting out of jail at the end of their time.

The big question the public are asking is ‘Why are they getting out?’. They should be released based on the risk they pose, not on the length of their sentence.”

Figures released by seven of the country’s eight police forces show that 64 SOPOs have been granted, and that a further nine are being sought. Grampian has been given 15 orders, the highest in any force. Northern has been granted 14, Strathclyde 12 and Lothian and Borders 11. Police say the orders are the best tool they have to limit the risk posed by high-risk criminals in the community, short of imposing round-the-clock surveillance, and are a far more effective means of monitoring than placing someone on the sex offenders’ register (SOR) alone. Professor Chris Gane, an expert on sentencing and head of law at Aberdeen University, said the growing number of SOPOs reflected a lack of suitable sentencing options available to judges in the past when dealing with the most dangerous criminals.

Prof Gane said: “For quite a few of these people who are the subject of SOPOs, the courts may not have had the power to impose more effective controls for when they are released.”

Kenny MacAskill, the SNP’s justice spokesman, questioned whether the offenders subject to SOPOs should have been released from prison, given police concerns.

“The normal rules of engagement do not apply with these predatory sex offenders. The rules are changing but we need to consider draconian action, longer sentences and a refusal to countenance their liberty if need be,” he said.

Order failed to prevent attack

Among the dangerous offenders made subject of a SOPO is Colin Ross who police believed posed a serious risk to women. The order banned him from approaching women or wearing a balaclava.

The self-confessed woman-hater was barred from leaving his home area for more than 24 hours without police permission and from getting work without written approval.

The order was imposed after his release on 9 June from a three-year sentence for a serious assault.

But Ross, 34, from Inverness, went on to attack American tourist Mandy Leyman-Mendonca, 61, with an iron bar at a Highland beauty spot, leaving her in a coma.

Lord Wheatley yesterday deferred sentence on him until later this month for a detailed risk-assessment report.

Mother lobbies Executive for access to information on paedophiles

The mother of a schoolboy murdered by a sex offender yesterday told MSPs her son would still be alive if proposals giving families the right to know the whereabouts of paedophiles had been introduced.

Since the death of her eight-year-old son Mark, Margaret Ann Cummings has been campaigning for parents to be told if there are registered sex offenders living in their area.

Mark was killed and thrown down a rubbish chute by Stuart Leggate, a known sex offender, who lived in the same tower block as the family in Royston, Glasgow.

Since then Ms Cummings has been campaigning for the introduction of “Mark’s Law” – which would allow parents access to information on child sex offenders living in their neighbourhood.

Yesterday she made a plea to a Scottish Parliament sub committee, who are considering the issue.

Ms Cummings, who was wearing a T-shirt with a picture of her murdered son on it, told MSPs: “I believe in my heart and soul Mark would still be alive today if Stuart Leggate knew parents were watching, and on a more basic level my son would know to stay away from him.”

The Scottish Executive has brought forward a series of proposals, including a system of limited disclosure to
people such as leisure centre bosses, employers, and landlords.