AARON POLLARD CAUGHT IN CUMBRIA AFTER BREACHING SEX OFFENDER RESTRICTIONS
A convicted sex offender, Aaron Pollard, was found staying with a mother and her children in Barrow, Cumbria, raising serious concerns about public safety and the effectiveness of monitoring measures.The court heard that Pollard, who had previously served time for sexual assault, was in breach of his strict legal restrictions when he was discovered in the area.
In March 2019, Pollard, aged 28 at the time, was sentenced to 27 months in prison at Swansea Crown Court after being convicted of sexually assaulting an underage girl.
The assault involved the victim being intoxicated with alcohol and cannabis, and Pollard was also found to have violated the terms of a ten-year Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO) that was imposed upon him.
Additionally, he failed to comply with notification requirements mandated by law for registered sex offenders.
Prosecutor Ellie McManus revealed during the hearing at Preston Crown Court that Pollard had been in regular contact with the young daughter of the woman in Barrow this year.
The court was told that Pollard had approached the mother and, during his arrest, shouted to her, “You do not know me, you have never seen me before babe,” indicating a confrontational attitude and possibly an attempt to conceal his identity or intentions.
It was established that Pollard had developed a relationship with the mother after initially communicating through Snapchat.
The court heard that Pollard was homeless at the time, often sleeping either on the streets or in his car, and would only stay at the woman’s address for a few hours, never overnight.
Despite this, he maintained regular contact with her daughter on a daily basis, raising concerns about the safety and well-being of the child.
The court also learned that Pollard had been present at a party attended by young girls aged between seven and ten years old.
On some occasions, he would drive the mother’s daughter to school, sometimes while attempting to avoid police detection in Barrow.
It was also revealed that Pollard had failed to inform the mother of his status as a registered sex offender, a significant breach of trust and legal obligation.
The victim, a young girl, was reportedly “shocked” and “upset” upon discovering Pollard’s true identity, which added to the gravity of the situation.
The police launched an investigation after Pollard was arrested outside a McDonald's on Dalton Road on May 2 this year, where he was found intoxicated and behaving disorderly.
Officers then visited his registered mother’s address, only to be told that Pollard had not been there since April 19.
In mitigation, Emma Keogh, representing Pollard, explained that his offending began after Christmas last year, following the breakdown of a relationship that resulted in his son being placed into social services care.
She described how Pollard turned to alcohol as a coping mechanism, which worsened his behavior.
Keogh also stated that Pollard had started a relationship online with another woman, which quickly progressed, leaving him stranded in Barrow with no money after his car broke down, preventing him from returning to Swansea.
Keogh emphasized that Pollard recognized he should have reported his situation to the authorities and expressed remorse for his actions.
She highlighted that he had already served three months in custody to reflect on his conduct and that his mother was seriously ill and in need of his support.
She urged the court to consider suspending his sentence to allow for rehabilitation.
However, His Honour Judge Graham Knowles was not persuaded and sentenced Pollard to 18 months in prison.
The judge stated that Pollard’s deception and breach of trust were serious, especially given his failure to disclose his sex offender status to the mother.
The judge emphasized that Pollard had been present in her house more often than he admitted and posed a high risk of reoffending.
He described Pollard as a danger to the public and noted that his persistent breaches left little hope for rehabilitation.
The judge concluded that only immediate custody could serve as appropriate punishment for Pollard’s actions.
