September 2017 Convicted voyeur took photos of girls on the Torquay big wheel A convicted sex offender took four girls under the age of 10 out on trips and took photos of them on the English Riviera big wheel on Torquay harbourside. Arthur Puffett , 76, has been given a suspended jail sentence for breaching the terms of a court order banning him from unsupervised contact with children. Puffett who is an internationally renowned expert on Wedgwood Pottery, was told to stay away from children after a conviction in 2010 for kissing a child and voyeurism. But instead of doing as he was told he made frequent trips out of Devon where he had contact with four girls under the age of 10. He also took photos of the children while they were on the English Riviera big wheel on Torquay seafront and he was warned by a judge at Exeter Crown Court that he needs to be ‘very careful’ to avoid jail in the future. Puffett, of St Efrides Road, Torquay, pleaded guilty to 12 counts of breaking a Sexual Offences Prevention Order (SOPO) or the terms of the sex offenders’ register (SOR). He admitted five counts breaking the SOPO between 2011 and 2014 through contact with girls under 16 from two families. Seven of the counts relate to breaking the terms of the SOR by being at the same address as the children without giving full details of his offending to parents and the social services. Judge Graham Cottle said: “You were convicted of sexual assault and voyeurism in 2010 and this stems from that conviction. “You were not to associate with children under 16 and you were to notify police of any intention to stay at another address. And what happens is that you associated with children under that age. “There is no suggestion your behaviour was inappropriate or you committed any sexual offences but I take the view that this case is of sufficient seriousness to justify the imposition of a prison sentence. But I am prepared to suspend the 12 month sentence for two years.” Judge Cottle warned Puffett to be ‘very careful’ in future and if he breached the order again he would very likely be sent to jail. Puffett is an expert on Wedgwood Pottery who has published books on the history of the company and the porcelain produced from its factory at Stoke on Trent. August 2017 Pottery expert admits breaking sex offender order by having contact with four under age girls A convicted sex offender has admitted breaking an order to stay away from children by having contact with four under age girls. Ceramics expert Arthur Puffett, aged 76, pleaded guilty to 12 counts of breaking a Sexual Offences Prevention Order (SOPO) or the terms of the sex offenders’ register (SOR) when he appeared at Exeter Crown Court. The order was imposed in 2009 when Puffett was convicted at Exeter Crown Court of a sexual assault on a girl. Puffett, of St Efride’s Road, Torquay, admitted five counts breaking the SOPO between 2011 and 2014 through contact with girls under 16 from two families. Seven of the counts relate to breaking the terms of the SOR by being at the same address as the children without giving full details of his offending to parents and the social services. He denied two further offences of taking photographs of two of the girls. There is no suggestion the images were indecent and the charges are unlikely to be pursued by the prosecution. Judge Geoffrey Mercer, QC, adjourned the case for the prosecution to confirm this decision and to allow a stand down probation report to be prepared. Puffett is an internationally renowned expert on Wedgwood Pottery who has published books on the history of the company and the porcelain produced from its factory at Etruria, Stoke on Trent.