UK- 'Vigilantes' target sex offenders' homes

9-1-2009 United Kingdom:

VIGILANTES are targeting sex offenders in North East Lincolnshire.

Police are concerned for the welfare of the families of convicted sex offenders – who are facing threats of violence and damage to their homes.

The details emerged in a case heard at Grimsby Crown Court in which the prosecuting barrister applied for reporting restrictions on the name and address of a defendant.

While the Grimsby Telegraph successfully argued against the proposed restrictions, the paper has agreed not to print the precise address of Benjamin McKenna, 27, after hearing concerns from the police and the judge.

Earlier this year, it was reported how residents on the Nunsthorpe estate gathered outside the home of a convicted paedophile – not McKenna – and hurled abuse at him.

He was moved by police and Shoreline housing officers to a different address.

In a letter to the court, PC Brian Bagnall said: "In the last few months, there has been an increase in violence and damage at the homes of persons who are subject to notification requirements.

"There was an incident recently when, following publicity, police were deployed to an incident in Grimsby when they had to relocate a male and his family.

"Two other addresses have been subject to anonymous attacks, with damage and threats of violence.

"I am concerned about so-called vigilantes who feel it appropriate to target people and their families."

Judge Jeremy Richardson QC described the actions of vigilantes as "monstrous".

He said that, while he has no power to prevent reporting of his address, he was pleased with the Telegraph's offer to simply say McKenna lives in Grimsby.

"This newspaper appears to me to be responsible and this seems to be the sensible way forward," he said.

Child pornography was found on McKenna's laptop when he took it in for repairs, the court heard.

McKenna admitted six counts of making indecent video clips, which were found on his laptop on July 8.

James Sampson, prosecuting at Grimsby Crown Court, said McKenna took the laptop to PC World to be fixed and store technicians found the video clips in the deleted files.

Stuart Lody, mitigating, said McKenna was searching for general pornography when he downloaded the clips, which showed young boys involved in sexual acts.

The court heard how he was unable to see what he was downloading until it was saved to his computer.

Judge Jeremy Richardson QC said McKenna had a penchant for "extreme" porn and "happened upon" the illegal material which he watched once and deleted.

Judge Richardson told McKenna: "You are in no way a committed paedophile but you had this material on your computer and you have committed a crime."

He was given a nine-month suspended sentence and was banned from working with children. ..Source.. by This is grimsbyu.co.uk