CHRISTIAN JOHN: CARDIFF PAEDOPHILE BANNED FROM 300 PARKS IN CARDIFF JAILED FOR PREDATORY BEHAVIOR NEAR PRIMARY SCHOOL

In August 2019, a disturbing incident unfolded in a Cardiff park, where Christian John, a known serial paedophile, was apprehended in close proximity to a primary school. The arrest took place in a recreational area that was bustling with activity, with dozens of children engaged in rugby matches. Despite being under a strict Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO), John was found loitering in the park, raising serious concerns about his ongoing predatory behavior.

Christian John, who is also known by the name John Christian Davies after legally changing his name by deed poll, has a long and troubling criminal history. At the time of this incident, he was recognized by an individual who had previously attended school with him. This person became alarmed when they saw John walking in the direction of a primary school just five minutes away from the park. The recognition prompted immediate concern, given John's history and the fact that he was under a sexual harm prevention order that restricts his movements near children.

The park in question was hosting approximately 100 children, many of whom were actively participating in rugby sevens. Witnesses observed John lingering in the area, throwing a ball back to children as it approached him, which was seen as suspicious behavior. Prosecutors highlighted that John was loitering in the park around 1:30 pm on May 21, a time when children were playing freely. His presence in such a setting, especially given his past offenses, was deemed highly inappropriate and dangerous.

During the court proceedings at Cardiff Crown Court, Judge Eleri Rees described John as a “predator” and emphasized that his actions over many years demonstrated a pattern of manipulative and devious conduct. The court was informed that John had accumulated a record of 46 offenses, including five sexual offenses and 15 breaches of sexual offense orders. His criminal history dates back to the mid-1990s, with numerous convictions for sexual assault, possession of dangerous items, and breaches of court orders.

Specifically, John’s past offenses include a 1996 indecent assault on a boy, for which he received a probation order, later breached, leading to imprisonment. In 1998, he was jailed for grabbing a child, pulling him towards a wooded area, and making explicit remarks. His 2004 conviction involved being caught with chloroform, a syringe, sticky tape, a knife, and a camera, which he claimed were for animal experiments. His repeated breaches of court orders, including being within 15 meters of a school or park, resulted in multiple jail sentences and community orders.

In 2006, he was given a 12-month community order for breaching a SHPO by going near a school, and in subsequent years, he was jailed multiple times for breaching these orders, often while intoxicated or loitering in parks. His criminal record also includes a 2011 conviction for making indecent images of children, and a 2012 conviction for sexual assault after grabbing a boy’s wrist and attempting to kiss him. His most recent conviction before the 2019 incident was in September 2015, when he was sentenced to two years in prison for approaching an eight-year-old boy in Ely and telling him, “You come with me now.”

Following this latest incident, Judge Rees imposed a new order that prevents John from entering within 50 meters of any public recreational area in Cardiff, which includes over 300 designated parks and green spaces. The court also considered an application to amend this restriction to allow John closer access to certain parks to facilitate his search for accommodation, as he currently lacked a fixed address. The judge, however, maintained the 50-meter restriction for most areas, citing the need to protect children from potential harm.

During the sentencing, Judge Rees described John as devious and manipulative, asserting that he is fully aware of what he is doing when loitering in parks. She sentenced him to 16 months in prison for his latest breach, emphasizing the ongoing danger he poses to children in Cardiff. The court’s detailed review of his criminal history underscores the persistent pattern of predatory behavior, with multiple convictions spanning over two decades, all pointing to a significant threat to the safety of young children in the community.