July 2018: Now living in Blackburn

July 2016: Now residing in Darwen,  Also uses the alias Kenneth Smith

August 2009

Sex offender Kenneth Dorricott still a serious risk to kids

A CONVICTED sex offender remains a risk to children after he tried to “groom” the son of a woman he was seeing, a court heard.

A Teesside Crown Court judge ruled that Kenneth Dorricott, aka Kenneth Luna, posed “a risk of serious sexual harm” particularly to young boys.

Dorricott, 45, who previously lived in Thornaby and worked as a long-distance lorry driver, sat with his head in his hands as a damning assessment was delivered on him.

He failed in an appeal against a five-year sexual offences prevention order imposed on him at Teesside Magistrates’ Court in March this year. 

In 1997 he was placed on probation in Scotland after pleading guilty to two offences of “lewd and libidinous behaviour” against a young boy.

In the years since, he had a series of relationships with single mothers in different parts of the country – two leading to harassment prosecutions and restraining orders.

The court heard how he became a “father figure” to the children of a woman, who cannot be named for legal reasons.

The judge concluded he tried to “groom” her son by taking him alone in his wagon on two overnight trips without telling the mother of his past.

Recorder Henry Prosser, sitting with two magistrates, said: “We are driven to the conclusion that the sole reason for that was to groom him… and to commit offences against him.

“We do not think for one second that (the mother) would have allowed (her son) to go in this lorry overnight with him if she had known about this conviction.”

There was no evidence of misconduct against the boy. The mum said she did not know of Dorricott’s past until a detective told her after the relationship ended.

“I wouldn’t be with a sex offender,” she stated.

The judge said she might not have been aware of any subtle manipulation, or that Dorricott “was as interested in her son as he was in her”.

After they broke up, Dorricott continued taking a “strange” and inappropriate interest in the woman’s son by sending him emails, one inviting him to an adult networking website, added the judge.

Dorricott claimed the mother told malicious lies. He maintained he had told her about his sexual history. “Her response to that was, ‘everyone’s got a past’,” he said.

He said he told all the women of his conviction early in the relationships, within weeks of meeting them over the internet. “I had to be honest about who I was,” he said.

“I didn’t feel good about telling people. I’m not proud of any of it. I’m very ashamed of it on a daily basis.”

However the judge said he was sceptical about Dorricott’s claims of open disclosure: “We wonder whether these relationships would have even got off the ground if he had imparted this information.”

The sexual offences prevention order, applied for by Cleveland Police, bans Dorricott from associating with or allowing under-18s into his home.

The judge said the order was “necessary and proportionate” to protect children, and he had no confidence Dorricott, who had a drink problem, could “control his urges” without it.

Dorricott, now unemployed and of no fixed address, believed he did not pose a risk.

He denied targeting vulnerable mothers, working his way into their affections to get to their children, manipulating situations to groom children or acting inappropriately.

He claimed the authorities picked on the wrong person and there were political motives behind it.

The court heard his current partner supported him through the proceedings.

June 2008

A CONVICTED sex offender has had an order banning him from using the internet extended.

Kenneth William Dorricott, 44, had used the internet to befriend women who have children, a previous hearing at Teesside Magistrates Court was told.

Earlier this month a sexual offences prevention order was made by the court against the Thornaby man.

Detective Constable Sheila Wood, of Cleveland Police public protection unit, told a hearing this week the order should be extended.

She said Dorricott had earlier this month forced his way into the home of a former partner – already the subject of a restraining order against him – and made threats and manhandled her.

She said Dorricott was fully aware at the time of his actions that the police were preparing an application for a sexual offences order against him.

“He still went out and did what he did,” she said. “He does pose a risk to any child in the community.”

The court heard that Dorricott was currently a voluntary patient in hospital following suicidal thoughts.

Julia Sims, defending, said Dorricott’s sexual offence dated back to 1997 and there had been no further sexual offences since then.

Opposing the order, she said: “My client admitted to the offence and handed himself in. He was drinking a lot at the time and taking drugs. He felt disgusted by his behaviour.”

Miss Sims said there was no evidence from the prosecution that Dorricott, of Vulcan Way, Thornaby, was attracted to young girls.

Julia Hatton, prosecuting, said: “My friend said there has been no further sexual offences and there hasn’t been. But the whole point of this legislation is that we can bring these applications before to hopefully stop further offences from happening.

“He’s acted in such a way his behaviour is concerning. All we have to do is prove the behaviour is concerning. That’s what we are doing today. We are trying to protect potential victims.”

The magistrates said they were satisfied Dorricott posed a risk to children and vulnerable adults. They extended the sexual offences prevention order until August 18, banning him from using the internet.