ADRIAN DEHAVILLAND'S SHOCKING CRIMES IN DIDCOT AND WIGAN: SEX OFFENDER'S REIGN OF TERROR

In December 2015, Adrian DeHavilland, a convicted sex offender from Wigan, was sentenced to 22 months in prison after being found guilty of breaching a court order related to his internet usage. The judge emphasized the severity of the violations, describing them as "serious breaches" that warranted immediate incarceration.

DeHavilland, aged 50 and residing on Linney Square, Scholes, had been scheduled to stand trial but chose to plead guilty to the charges of breaching a Sexual Offences Prevention Order (SOPO) that had been imposed on him back in 2012. The order was modified on June 12 of that year, but within just a few days—specifically on July 3—he was found to have violated its terms, as detailed by prosecutor Ken Grant.

One of the key conditions of the SOPO was that DeHavilland was prohibited from possessing a computer or any related electronic equipment without prior police approval. However, during a police raid on his residence, officers discovered a smart TV capable of internet access and a USB storage device, both of which were deemed violations of the court order.

At Liverpool Crown Court, it was revealed that DeHavilland has an extensive criminal history, including 19 previous convictions for sex offenses. Notably, he served a five-year prison sentence in 2010 for false imprisonment. His past crimes and current breaches underscore a troubling pattern of behavior.

Defense lawyer Martyn Walsh argued that the two breaches occurred within a short timeframe and characterized them as "minor" violations. Nonetheless, the judge, recognizing the seriousness of the case, decided that an immediate custodial sentence was necessary to uphold the law and protect the public.

In a separate but related case from January 2012, DeHavilland, then known as Adrian Goodenough, admitted to possessing indecent images of children. This case was part of a broader investigation into unsolved crimes, which led to his arrest at his Wigan home in March 2010. The arrest was initially linked to an attack on an 11-year-old girl near Didcot Power Station in 1982.

Further police inquiries uncovered hundreds of photographs and videos depicting sexual abuse of girls aged between 10 and 16. During the court proceedings, Judge Patrick Eccles was informed that approximately 10% of these images were classified as grade four and five, indicating the highest levels of indecency. As a result, DeHavilland, aged 47 at the time, was sentenced to an additional 16 months in prison, to be served concurrently with his existing sentence.

Prosecutor Cathy Olliver detailed that police found a hidden file labeled “park two,” containing 24 photographs taken in parks, focusing on a young girl. Initially, DeHavilland claimed ignorance about the images, expressing shock upon learning they were stored on his computer’s hard drive, which he had purchased at a car boot sale. He stated that he was interested in aircraft, referencing a file named “aircraft plans” containing 567 still images and videos.

During the hearing, Graeme Knight, representing the defense, acknowledged the damning nature of the probation report, suggesting that the age of the children in the images might have been a mitigating factor.

Judge Eccles sentenced DeHavilland to 16 months for each of the charges, to run concurrently, and emphasized the gravity of his past offenses, which include contact offenses, gross indecency, and sexual assault. The judge condemned DeHavilland’s attitude, noting that he believed his behavior should not be subject to criticism.

In addition to his prison sentence, DeHavilland was ordered to register as a sex offender and was given an indefinite sexual offences prevention order.

His criminal history is extensive, beginning with a 1982 attack on an 11-year-old girl near Didcot Power Station, which went unpunished until 2010. Previously known as Adrian Goodenough, he was convicted in 2010 for the 1982 assault and served 39 months in prison. He was also involved in numerous other offenses, including 51 counts of indecent exposure and five indecent assaults spanning from 1982 to 2001.

DeHavilland’s case continues to highlight the ongoing dangers posed by repeat offenders and the importance of vigilant law enforcement in safeguarding vulnerable individuals from predatory behavior.