Rishton paedophile allowed to play golf to protect human rights (From Lancashire Telegraph)

Rishton paedophile allowed to play golf to protect human rights

12:00pm Saturday 17th September 2011 in Rishton By Wendy Barlow, Court reporter

AN OVERWEIGHT “high- risk” paedophile banned from places used by children is to be allowed a walk in the park, and to play golf, so his human rights are not breached.

Registered disabled Christopher Williams, 49, from Rishton, says he has a heart condition, asthma, and rheumatoid arthritis, and has been told by medics to exercise and lose weight.

But, a court heard, he has been prevented from entering parks, play areas, and country parks, and from joining, or attending, any sports, educational, or leisure clubs, under a Sexual Offences Prevention Order.

It was made after he was jailed for seven years, at Chester Crown Court, for an indecent assault on a boy under 16, and gross indecency with a child, in November 1996.

Williams, currently living in a probation hostel in Carlisle, was spared immediate jail and given a suspended prison term he is still subject to, in April, after a “serious breach” of the SOPO.

He and another pervert, who had been sharing Williams' then home of two years in Edward Street, Rishton, let children in the property, even though both were prohibited from having youngsters where they were living. Williams was said to have contacted police and told them it was going on.

The hearing was told Williams, who has also stayed at a hostel in Accrington, has not committed any offences against children for 15 years, but is still classed as a high-risk sex offender by police.

He had earlier applied to Hyndburn magistrates for the SOPO to be varied so he can go walking and play golf in Carlisle.

Lancashire Police, who say he could go walking in the nearby Lake District or around Carlisle, and have claimed Williams had said he didn’t play golf, objected and the justices refused.

Williams appealed their decis-ion, at Burnley Crown Court, where a judge and two mag-istrates allowed him more freedom to try and get fit, but only at certain times, when youngsters will be in their lessons, and not during school holidays.