January 2015

Child sex offender jailed after committing more than 11 breaches of his sexual offences prevention order in nine years

Written by Colin Adwent

A potentially dangerous child sex offender has been jailed again after committing at least 11 breaches of his sexual offences prevention order in nine years.

Richard Ling, of London Road South, Lowestoft, was given another two-year prison term by Ipswich Crown Court after being jailed for two years last June.

The 62-year-old pleaded guilty to two breaches of his sexual offences prevention order (SOPO) when he appeared before the court for a preliminary hearing.

Both offences occurred on January 10 in Lowestoft.

He was found to be loitering outside a children’s play area and had communication with two girls under the age of 16.

Ling was prohibited from doing either of these things by a SOPO made by Chelmsford Magistrates Court on August 14, 2006.

Last June Ipswich Crown Court heard he also committed the two breaches of the order in January 2014 in Ipswich – less than three months after a judge spared him a jail sentence and gave him the chance to attend a treatment programme to address his sexual offending.

Jailing Ling, Judge Rupert Overbury said: “You are potentially dangerous to young children, particularly young girls. You pose a very high risk of further offences.”

The court heard Ling was seen touching his groin area over his clothing by two girls aged seven and 12 years old in a recreation ground near Westbourne High School, in Ipswich.

In March 2013 Ling was arrested after an incident when two children from Meadow Primary School in Lowestoft arrived home upset about a man outside the school.

In October 2013 he was sentenced to a three-year community order with a requirement to take part in a programme to address his sexual offending for that breach of his SOPO.

Ling’s previous convictions stretch back to 1972 when he was convicted of indecent exposure.

Ling did not offend again until 2004 when he committed gross indecency with a child.

In 2006 a sexual offences prevention order (SOPO) was made following a conviction for disorderly behaviour after he exposed himself to young children.

Ling breached it in 2007, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2013, and 2014.

In August 2007 Ling engaged in sexual activity in the presence of young children.

In August 2009 he was sentenced to six months’ imprisonment for breaching his SOPO which prohibited loitering near a public place.

In June 2010 he breached his SOPO on two occasions by hanging around a primary school.

Four further breaches occurred between September 2010 and December 2011.

June 2014

Sex offender jailed for repeatedly breaching SOPO

A sex offender who has breached a sexual offences prevention order on at least 10 occasions has been jailed for 2 years

Richard Ling committed the two latest breaches of the order in January – less than three months after a judge spared him a jail sentence and gave him the chance to attend a treatment programme for his sexual offending

Jailing 61 year old Ling, judge Rupert Overbury said: “You are potentially dangerous to young children, particularly young girls”

“You pose a very high risk of further offences”, the judge added

The judge said it was necessary to pass a deterrent sentence on Ling to mark how serious the court took to his multiple breaches of court orders

Ling admitted two offences of breaching a SOPO on 5th January

Robert Sadd prosecuting at Ipswich crown court said Ling was seen touching his groin area over his clothing by two young girls who were aged 7 and 12 years old in a recreation ground near Westbourne high school, in Ipswich

In March last year, Ling, formerly of high street in Lowestoft, was arrested after an incident when two children from Meadow primary school in Lowestoft arrived home upset about a man outside her school

When the childs mother and grandmother went to the school they noticed a man walking down the same side of the road the school was on, before passing it and walking off

He returned a short time later and went up to the entrance where he watched children in the playing area

In October last year he was sentenced to that breach of the SOPO to a three community order 

Lings previous convictions stretch back to 1972 when he was convicted of indecent exposure

His previous convictions include gross indecency with a child, disorderly behaviour after he exposed himself to young children, engaging in sexual activity in the presence of young children, breaching his SOPO which prohibited him from loitering in a public place, breaching his SOPO twice by loitering around a primary school and various other breaches

October 2013

Child sex offender spared jail for ninth breach of order so he can go on treatment programme

A man who breached his sexual offences prevention order for the ninth time by lurking outside a Suffolk school has been spared a further jail term.

Ipswich Crown Court heard if Richard Ling was to be given another prison sentence he could not be ordered to attend a treatment programme for his sexual offending.

Sentencing Ling, Judge John Holt said: “What (your) arrest triggered was a recall to prison. You have been on remand since April 30 and your earliest release date is December 30. You will have effectively served a 15-month sentence.

“That gives me scope to consider the recommendation of the pre-sentence report which was a three-year community order with a requirement to engage in an accredited programme to address your sexual offending.”

The judge added Ling, of High Street, Lowestoft, would also be a strict residency requirement at a probation hostel as part of the order.

Ling, 61, was arrested after an incident in March when two children from Meadow Primary School in Lowestoft arrived home upset about a man outside the school.

Prosecutor Michael Crimp said when their mother and grandmother went to the school they noticed a man walking down the same side of the road as the school is on, before passing it and walking off.

He returned a short time later and went up to the entrance where he watched children in the playground for around five minutes.

Ling – who was on licence at the time after being released from prison – was subsequently arrested.

His history of offending stretches back to 1972 when he was convicted of indecent exposure.

Ling did not offend again until 2004 when he committed gross indecency with a child.

In 2006 a sexual offences prevention order (SOPO) was made following a conviction for disorderly behaviour after he exposed himself to young children.

In August 2007 Ling engaged in sexual activity in the presence of young children.

In August 2009 he was sentenced to six months’ imprisonment for breaching his SOPO which prohibited loitering near a public place.

In June 2010 he breached his SOPO on two occasions by hanging around a primary school.

Four further breaches occurred between September 2010 and December 2011.

Asking the judge to spare Ling prison his barrister Hugh Vass said: “If he keeps going in and out of prison his track record suggests it won’t get to the root of his offending.”

In addition to Ling’s community order for admitting breaching his SOPO he must pay £60 to the victims’ fund.

March 2011 

A CONVICTED sex offender has been jailed after he admitted loitering around a caravan park play area

Richard Ling, 58, had denied breaking a sexual offences order banning him from going near children’s playgrounds but changed his plea before his trial was due to start at Ipswich Crown Court.

Ling, of Cambridge Road, Clacton, was charged with breaching a banning order by loitering in a play area at the Hutleys caravan park on October 25 last year.

He was jailed for six months.

Aug 2009

Serial sex offender caught lurking by school

A SERIAL sex offender spotted loitering next to a school playground has been jailed for six months.

Richard Ling, 56, was spotted by two council staff working in Pickers Ditch nature reserve, Clacton, Chelmsford Crown Court heard.

Ling tried to hide his face when he realised he had been spotted looking at children on the playing field at Great Clacton Junior School, on April 28.

He was arrested within ten minutes and told police he had been looking for goldfish in the stream.

Ling, of Edith Road, Clacton, admitted breaching a sexual offences prevention order imposed by Chelmsford magistrates on August 14, 2006.

Judge Peter Fenn said the order was imposed to protect young children. He added the pupils had been unaware Ling was watching them. He had not exposed himself.

The judge said as well as being subject to the sexual offences prevention order, Ling had several convictions related to young children – three for indecent exposure from 1972, one of gross indecency with a boy under 16 in 2004, one of sexual activity in the presence of a girl under 13, committed on March 7 last year.

He had been jailed for 18 months for the latter offence.

Following his arrest, Ling had already been recalled to prison to serve the remaining nine months of the 18 month sentence.

Nicola May, prosecuting, said Ling was spotted in undergrowth 15 yards from the school playing field.

His lawyer, Daniel Howell, , said Ling had once held a highly skilled job in the optical field, but was unemployed at the time of the offence.

He had gone job hunting on and industrial estate near the nature reserve. However, he accepted he should not have been near the school.