Sex offender changed his name from Frank to 'Mohammed' and joined mosque

Frank Crampsey started attending the Blackburn mosque daily after volunteering at a family fun day to celebrate Eid in July.

But unknown to worshippers there, the convicted paedophile was subject to a strict court order preventing him from coming into contact with children, Preston Crown Court heard.

The 60-year-old, who lived in Earby before moving to Blackburn, was welcomed by members and given a £50 prize for his work handing out leaflets and picking up litter at Corporation Park's Eid in the Park.

The Whalley New Road mosque, which has its own ‘madrassa’ which teaches children about Islam, even funded a deposit on a new home for Crampsey when he told them he had fallen on hard times.

But Crampsey, who been jailed before for sex offences against young boys, did not reveal his past, or that he was banned from entering any educational establishment under the terms of a court order.

When mosque member Ashbad Ahmed, who had taken Crampsey under his wing learned he was a convicted paedophile with a history of breaching court orders, he was shaken and taken aback, Preston Crown Court heard.

Crampsey, of no fixed address, had said he was lonely and in poverty when he attended the mosque.

Francis McEntee, prosecuting, told the court it was the fifth time Crampsey has breached the terms of the Sexual Offenders Prevention Order, which was made in 2006 in respect of convictions dating back to 2001.

Last year he was sentenced for breaching the order when he visited a woman with children aged 13 and nine regularly, along with the children’s grandfather.

When officers visited him for routine monitoring on July 31 this year, Crampsey said he had been spending time at the mosque.

Police spoke then to Mr Ahmed, who said he was not aware of any contact with children at the Darussalam Education Centre, but revealed Crampsey had not been monitored at all times.

Mark Stewart, defending, said: “This mosque knew he was called Frank, but he asked to be called 'Mohammed' because he thought it was inappropriate he was called Frank.

"It wasn’t the case he was pretending to be someone he wasn’t.

“Even though his contact with children was nil while he was at the mosque, he understands the difficulty.”

Crampsey pleaded guilty to breaching the terms of the order.

Jailing him for five months, Judge Simon Newell, said: “For more than 10 years now you know you have been subject to this order.

"You know the terms of the order you are subject to and you know the reasons why.

“That must have been very clear in your mind as this is not the first time you have come back to court to deal with breaches.

“One can understand and have some sympathy with the position you are in. The sort of order this is can create a situation of loneliness.

“It doesn’t necessarily assist, but it is not there for your benefit. It is there to protect children.

“If you wish to enter into social arrangements, whether it is with other people or with organisations such as the Islamic community, who are willing to provide you with help and assistance, you can do that.

"All you have to do is be upfront and honest with them.

“If you do that, you may find that some people may reject you but others may take you on board, if they are charitable, religious and open minded.

“At least they can put measures in place to protect children.”

A mosque spokesman said: “We were totally unaware of Crampsey's background and were only alerted when the police got in touch.

“We are extremely thankful to the police for alerting us to this.

“When someone wishes to find out more about the religion and wants to attend the mosque for prayers, like most religion buildings, it is very difficult for us to know about someone's background.

“He was never near any children in the mosque and we have strict safeguarding procedures in place when it comes to the madrassa.

“He only made an appearance at the mosque for several weeks during the holiday period when all children were away.”