September 2012

Convicted paedophile lied so he could go to America on storm chasing break

A CONVICTED paedophile has been sent back to prison after lying to get an American visa so he could go on a storm chasing holiday.

Stephen John Harris, 42, of Kipling Terrace in Westward Ho!, was jailed for 18 months in January 2010 for 19 offences including downloading 1,607 internet images of child abuse images and filming children from his parents’ house.

He was released from jail later that year.

As a result of his conviction he was ordered to sign on to the sex offenders register for ten years.

Ben Winzer, for the prosecution, said Harris flew to the USA for two weeks on May 19 this year without notifying the authorities that he was leaving the country.

Mr Winzer said: “When interviewed by police Mr Harris accepted he was aware of the requirements to leave the country.

“He had previously made a trip to France and had completed all the paperwork correctly so he knew the procedure.”

Mr Winzer said unemployed Harris admitted lying about his previous convictions to obtain an American visa and also admitted a previous breach when he had been living in Bournemouth without notifying the authorities.

Mr Winzer said: “This was a deliberate failure to comply which involved a good deal of planning.

“He also lied about his convictions to gain access to another country which is an aggravating feature.”

Debbie Bakehouse, for the defence, said Harris had notified the authorities about all his previous changes of address.

She said: “He is an extreme weather enthusiast.

“He came upon the holiday of a lifetime, two weeks storm chasing in America, and couldn’t resist it.

“He has a great passion for storm chasing and made a stupid decision which he regrets very much.

“He is very sorry. This is the last and only time he will breach his conditions.”

Presiding magistrate Michael Buckley said: “The public need to feel that when someone is placed on the sex offenders register they have protection against this person.

“When this is breached it is a very serious matter. This was deliberate and planned. You lied to obtain a travel visa and you have admitted a previous breach.”

Harris was sentenced to eight weeks in prison.

November 2011

Paedophile allowed to visit scene of crime

PARENTS whose children were secretly filmed by a paedophile say they are sickened he is allowed to return to the house where his crimes were committed.

Stephen Harris, from Bideford, was jailed for 18 months in January 2010 for 19 offences.

They included downloading 1,607 internet images of child porn and filming children from his parents’ house as they played.

Harris, who was 40 when he was convicted in January 2010, was released from prison last year.

He was rehomed at an undisclosed location away from his parents’ home in Bideford.

Harris had not been seen back there until earlier this month, when the mother of one of his victims came face to face with him in the street.

It is believed he was visiting his parents, which police say he is legally entitled to do.

His parents, in a letter to the Journal, have also defended their son visiting, saying they have sympathy with the victims, but they are not breaking any laws.

The victim’s mother, who cannot be named for legal reasons, said it was only by chance she didn’t have her daughter with her at the time.

She said: “I’m disgusted. The first thing I did was speak to the police because they told me at the time he was released he would never be allowed back to that address.

“They told me although they agree with me that he shouldn’t be there, they said it’s the law and he is allowed to visit.”

She added: “I saw him twice within two days last week and he had bags so it looks like he had overnight stuff. I know he’s not living there, but staying there is just as bad.”

“I don’t understand why they are allowing him back. He’s less than 100m from a school, and next year when the kids are off in the summer holidays I can see I’ll end up not letting them out to play, and I’m not going to be able to tell them why.”

Another mum, told the Journal: “We are very, very concerned for our children’s safety. He shouldn’t be back at the address he committed the crimes at.

“The temptation is just too great, if you put a drink in front of an alcoholic chances are they will drink it, because they have a problem. It’s the same for him. There will be children in front of him several times a day if he’s up in that room again, and you just don’t know what’s going on behind those net curtains.”

“My friend who lives really close to them is really upset. She’s now scared to leave her door unlocked. Luckily the young girls who this happened to don’t have a clue about any of it because they are so young, but why expose them to him again?

“We want him to be banned from the area. He shouldn’t be able to be so near to his victims.”

Police insist Harris is well within his rights to stay at the address.

DS Heather Bell from the Devon Public Protection Unit said: “He is being monitored by public protection officers and anything that might constitute a breach would be noticed.

“Police have a duty to monitor those convicted and are fully aware of the circumstances in this case.”

In a letter to the Journal Mrs Harris wrote: “He does not live at this address. He occasionally visits for a family meal, birthdays etc. I would also like to point out I have another son who lives away who visits me as well and they have a very similar appearance.

“I know this is a sensitive issue, and we are all trying to deal with it in a sensible way.

“Everyone is aware in the official capacity that he is within the law to visit us as parents, who are now not getting any younger.

“It has been a stressful time for everyone, and now we need some peace in our lives. At the end of the day my husband and myself are not guilty of anything, only trying to do the correct thing as parents in the circumstances we found ourselves.

Mrs Harris added: “Stephen is just visiting which he is allowed to do, therefore we are breaking no laws in the eyes of the police. We could understand if he was living here permanently but this will never happen.

“At the end of all this we cannot turn back the pages of life and what has happened. We must have faith that we have a happier future to look forward to.”