ADAM BUSHELL FROM BLYTH SENTENCED IN NORTHUMBERLAND FOR BREACHING SEX OFFENDER ORDERS

In June 2018, Adam Bushell, a known sex offender from Blyth, Northumberland, faced serious legal repercussions after breaching court-imposed restrictions and attempting to conceal his past. The 27-year-old, who had previously served time for offenses related to online grooming and attempted meetings with minors, engaged in deceptive behavior that put vulnerable individuals at risk.

Bushell’s criminal history is extensive. In 2016, he was sentenced to 16 months in prison after being caught by the paedophile hunter group Dark Justice. He had arranged to meet what he believed was a 13-year-old girl on Westmoreland Road in Newcastle, under the false impression that she was a minor. In reality, the group had set up the decoy profile to trap individuals like him. During this incident, Bushell was found to have exchanged private messages with the decoy, asking for nude pictures and sending shirtless photographs of himself, despite believing he was communicating with a young girl.

Following his release from prison, Bushell was subject to strict community orders, including restrictions on unsupervised contact with children and the requirement to disclose his previous offenses. Despite these measures, he met a woman through a dating site, moved into her residence in Blyth, and lived with her and her 10-year-old daughter for eight months. It was only when the woman’s friend grew suspicious and conducted a Google search that the truth about Bushell’s identity and criminal past was uncovered.

The discovery was shocking. The woman, who was pregnant at the time, expressed her disgust and distress, stating she felt “physically sick” and wanted him out of her life immediately. It emerged that Bushell had been living under the alias Andrew Robinson, a name he adopted in an attempt to hide his criminal history. The woman was unaware of his status as a sex offender until her friend’s investigation revealed his true identity through online searches, which linked him to previous convictions.

Further scrutiny revealed that Bushell had been introduced to friends and family under the false name Robinson, and he had not disclosed his past or the existence of a sexual harm prevention order. The court heard that the woman had no idea of his criminal record until the moment she found out. The situation was compounded by the fact that Bushell had been left alone with her daughter on multiple occasions, although there was no evidence to suggest any abuse occurred.

Judge Simon Batiste, presiding at Newcastle Crown Court, described Bushell’s actions as “very high risk” and “devious,” emphasizing the severity of his breach of court orders. The judge pointed out that Bushell’s decision to change his name and hide his identity was a calculated attempt to evade detection and continue his pattern of risky behavior. He stated, “People who behave in such a high risk way, having committed the past offenses you have, must understand these orders, the sex offenders register, and the sexual harm prevention order, have teeth. You must understand, these requirements upon you must be met or longer and longer custodial sentences will follow.”

Prosecutor Neil Pallister explained that after his release from a 16-month sentence related to the Dark Justice incident, Bushell was assigned a risk management officer. However, by March of that year, he had completely lost contact with authorities, making excuses to avoid meetings and suggesting they meet at police stations instead. It was later revealed that he had started a new relationship early the previous year and moved in with his partner in September, all the while concealing his criminal record and the existence of the court orders.

The court was told that the woman he was living with confirmed she was unaware of his past and that he had continued to use the surname Robinson in social settings, including with friends and family. The truth came to light when she became suspicious after she searched for his name online and found images of known sex offenders, including one matching his appearance. Recognizing the image as the man she knew as Adam Robinson, she immediately contacted the police and expressed her disgust, stating, “I don’t want to speak to him, I just want him out of my life. I feel physically sick.”

Bushell’s defense, represented by Brian Mark, argued that there was no evidence to suggest he had committed any sexual offenses against children. The lawyer claimed that Bushell’s actions were motivated by a desire for a “normal life and relationship,” and that he had “slipped the leash” to pursue a relationship, which was described as selfish. The court was also reminded of Bushell’s earlier convictions, including a 2011 conviction for battery after duct-taping a pregnant woman’s mouth and subsequent assaults, as well as a 2010 caution for having sex with a teenage girl.

In light of his breaches and past conduct, Bushell was sentenced to an additional two years in prison. He admitted to failing to comply with sex offender registration requirements and breaching a sexual harm prevention order, which remains in force. Judge Batiste emphasized the importance of these orders and warned that failure to adhere to them would result in longer sentences in the future. The case underscores the ongoing risks posed by individuals like Bushell, who attempt to conceal their past and continue risky behaviors despite legal restrictions and community supervision.