Sex offender jailed for breaking ban by being in company with several young girls
A sex offender who defied a court order by being in the company of several young girls has been jailed for two years.
Ian King, 50, pleaded guilty to breaching a sexual offences prevention order on three occasions, between July and September, 2015.
Although there was no suggestion he abused any of the children, he knew he was forbidden to be in the company of females under 16 without the permission of their parents or guardian, who also had to be made aware of his previous convictions.
One of the occasions he had gave the girls sweets and on another played magic tricks.
Leicester Crown Court was told that the mother of four girls, all under 16, did not know of King’s previous convictions for indecently assaulting children.
Joey Kwong, prosecuting, said that on two occasions he visited the mother of the children when they were present.
On one occasion she visited his address with her girls.
Other adults were also present during all the visits and the defendant was never alone with the children.
However, on one occasion he played magic tricks to amuse them, said Mr Kwong.
When one child went to sit on his knee, he had immediately lifted her off – and also sat on his own hands during much of the time.
King’s offender manager found out about the contact when he made a routine visit to the defendant, who admitted being in the company of the girls on one occasion.
When the mother was informed she revealed there were two other occasions.
King, formerly of Lomond Crescent, Leicester, was said to dispute suggestions he momentarily tickled one of the children or had rocked two them in a rocking chair.
The court heard that in 1992, King was jailed for 21 months for indecently assaulting a female under 16.
In July 2011 he was jailed for 14 months for sexually assaulting two girls under 13.
It was on that occasion he was made the subject of a sexual offences prevention order banning contact with girls under 16 without permission.
Judge Ebraham Mooncey said: “There was clear grooming behaviour doing magic tricks for children; it would only be to impress them.
“The giving of sweets, what’s that going to do?
“You were aware of the restrictions.”
In interview, the defendant said he was not trying to groom the family and wanted to test if he could integrate back into the community without having sexual thoughts about children.
Mr Kwong said: “But he then accepted it was risky behaviour.”
Fernando Rodrigues, mitigating, said: “He accepts there was some interaction with magic tricks, but there was a barrier, a table between them.
“On one occasion he just sat in the corner of the room.
“There’s nothing to suggest any physical contact, other than when a child tried to sit on his knee.
“He says he didn’t inform the mother of his past record, as he should have done, because in his words ‘it was extremely awkward and I didn’t know how to bring it up.’ “
