BEN LAWS RAMSGATE SEX OFFENDER AVOIDS JAIL AFTER BREACHING RESTRICTIONS IN RAMSGATE

In a case that has once again highlighted the ongoing concerns surrounding sex offenders and their compliance with legal restrictions, Ben Laws, a known sex offender from Ramsgate, narrowly escaped immediate imprisonment after being found in violation of court-mandated restrictions.

Ben Laws, who has a troubling history linked to child exploitation, was previously convicted of downloading illegal images of children and was placed on the Sex Offenders' Register for a period of ten years, starting from February 2011. His criminal record includes multiple breaches of the conditions set by the court, with this latest incident marking the fourth such violation.

The incident came to light when police officers responded to Laws' residence in Ramsgate in February of the previous year. During their visit, they uncovered evidence that Laws was engaged in a relationship with a 17-year-old girl, which was a direct breach of the restrictions imposed upon him. The court had explicitly prohibited Laws from residing in the same household as anyone under the age of 18, a condition he was accused of violating.

Prosecutor Steve Mould detailed that Laws, who was known to have previously used the name Lana Laws but now identifies as a woman, admitted to breaching the Sexual Offences Act by failing to notify authorities about his relationship with the minor. Despite the severity of the breach, Laws claimed that his actions were due to forgetfulness rather than malicious intent.

The court heard that Laws and the teenage girl had initially met online, with the girl claiming to be 18 at the time of their first contact. Their relationship, therefore, was in direct contravention of the restrictions placed upon Laws, who was aware of the legal boundaries but allegedly failed to adhere to them.

In light of these facts, Laws was sentenced to a nine-month jail term, which was suspended for two years. Additionally, he was ordered to complete 100 hours of unpaid community service. The judge emphasized the seriousness of Laws' repeated breaches and the potential risk he posed to the community, especially to minors.

Meanwhile, in a separate but related case from April 2011, Laws, then aged 32, faced another court hearing concerning his possession of indecent images of children. Despite the disturbing nature of his offenses and the risk that he might act out his 'warped fantasies,' Laws was not sent to prison. Instead, Judge Simon James sentenced him to 12 months in prison, suspended for two years, and ordered him to attend therapy sessions.

The court was informed that Laws, who worked as a DJ at St James' Hall in Ramsgate and also had a career as an accountant, had been downloading images of naked children and girls in school uniforms, claiming it was for research related to his own past abuse. The judge dismissed these claims, noting that Laws had deliberately sought out increasingly explicit images and had attempted to tarnish the reputation of an adult he accused of abusing him.

Authorities revealed that Laws had concealed the computers used to access these illicit images at St James' Hall. His initial conviction on eight counts of making indecent photographs of children was handed down at Margate Magistrates' Court on February 28, after which he was transferred to Canterbury Crown Court for sentencing.

Prosecutor Donna East highlighted that Laws had intentionally sought out and viewed images that became progressively more severe, raising significant concerns about his potential for future offending. The judge, after reviewing additional psychiatric evidence, expressed deep concern over Laws' lack of insight and continued offending behavior, especially given his previous convictions for sexual assault and attempts to contact young women on the street.

Despite the gravity of his offenses, legal constraints and sentencing guidelines limited the judge's options. Laws was given a relatively short sentence, with the court noting that an indeterminate sentence was not permissible under current law. The judge emphasized that releasing Laws back into the community without adequate intervention posed a serious risk to children, but due to legal restrictions, he would serve only part of his sentence before potential release.

Both cases underscore the ongoing challenges faced by the justice system in managing offenders with a history of sexual crimes, especially those who continue to breach restrictions and pose a threat to public safety, particularly to minors in Ramsgate and the surrounding areas.