February 2017
‘High risk’ Ellesmere Port man handed interim order banning contact with children
A MAN released from prison last month has been made the subject of an interim order banning him from contact with children.
Cheshire Police are seeking an indefinite Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO) against Mark Donaghey, 52, of Elaine Close, Great Sutton, Ellesmere Port.
A full hearing will take place on May 26, but in the meantime he must abide by eight rules which include not exposing his genitals in public or approaching youngsters.
Representing the police at the hearing at West Cheshire Magistrates Court on Friday, barrister James Coutts said: “The view of the police is that he is a very high risk offender.”
In 2005 Donaghey admitted two counts of indecent behaviour and asked for five similar offences to be taken into account.
He was jailed for almost seven years, with a further five on licence.
He was then recalled to spend the entire licence period behind bars and was released at the end of January this year.
Mr Coutts told the court that the parole board had concerns as to whether he was a “reformed character”.
Representing Donaghey, Mark Lever did not oppose the interim order but said there may be submissions regarding the terms and length of the full order.
He said a risk assessment would be carried out on Donaghey before the hearing in May.
Magistrates’ chairman Andrew Platt said the bench considered there was due reason to impose the interim order ahead of the full hearing.
Other terms of the interim order include: no contact with children under 16 ‘unless unavoidable in the course of every day life’; not to make or keep pictures of children without their parents’ permission; not using the internet unless on a device that shows web history which can be inspected by police at any time.
May 2005
A menace to young children
A SERIAL sex offender described as a menace to young children has been jailed for nearly seven years.
And the mother of one of his victims has praised the sentence, saying it is ‘fantastic’ he will be off the streets for so long.
Mark Donaghey, of Great Sutton, admitted two counts of indecent behaviour and asked a judge to consider five similar offences.
He was jailed for five years, will be on licence for another five and must serve 635 days of a previous sentence for another sex offence.
Donaghey, 40, from Elaine Close, was also put on the Sex Offenders Register for life.
Speaking after Friday’s sentencing at Chester Crown Court, the Ellesmere Port mother of one of his youngest victims said: ‘It’s fantastic he got so long. I’m pleased the judge wasn’t lenient.
‘Donaghey had already done this sort of thing before. I don’t think he’s remorseful. Let’s hope the authorities keep an eye on him when he’s finally released.’
The court heard Donaghey committed a string of offences in front of children aged four to 13 in Little Sutton, Ellesmere Port and Chester between May 16 and December 6 last year.
Prosecuting, Wyn Lloyd Jones said Donaghey had exposed himself, committed indecent acts and offered children money before riding off on his yellow mountain bike.
In December 2002, Donaghey was jailed for 18 months after pleading guilty to attempted indecency with a child. He’d approached a seven-year-old girl and offered her money to enter his vehicle.
Judge Roger Dutton told Donaghey: ‘You are a sexual menace to young children. At the moment, you are unable to control yourself. This sentence is to protect youngsters.’