COLIN HAWYES FROM FAREHAM AND SELSEY INVOLVED IN PAEDOPHILE RING SCANDAL AT WEST SANDS HOLIDAYS

In a recent development that has shocked the local communities of Fareham and Selsey, Colin Hawyes, a man with a disturbing past linked to a notorious paedophile ring, has been identified as residing at West Sands Holidays in Selsey. This revelation has prompted swift action from the holiday park management and has raised serious concerns about safeguarding children in the area.

Back in January 2014, the management at West Sands Holidays took decisive steps to remove Hawyes from their premises. The decision came after an investigation confirmed that Hawyes, a convicted paedophile, was staying at a static caravan owned personally by him within the holiday park. The park’s management expressed their appreciation for John Bunn, the owner of Bunn Leisure, who acted promptly upon learning of the situation. Mr. Bunn ordered Hawyes to leave the caravan site immediately and made it clear that he was not welcome to return.

It was also revealed that all necessary checks had been conducted prior to Hawyes’s stay, and it was discovered that he had purchased the caravan under an alias. Furthermore, Hawyes was not listed on the sex offenders register at the time, which allowed him to bypass certain screening procedures. This loophole highlights ongoing concerns about the effectiveness of current monitoring systems for convicted offenders.

Hawyes’s criminal history is deeply troubling. In December 2013, he was identified as a member of a paedophile ring that operated within the St John Ambulance Brigade for over 25 years. This ring was responsible for abusing more than 80 boys, all under the age of 16. The ring’s activities spanned from the mid-1960s to the late 1980s, with some offences dating back over three decades. The victims, many of whom testified during the 1998 trial, were now in their 30s and 40s. They recounted being sexually assaulted during Brigade camping trips and at the flat of another ring member, which had been converted into a “mini youth club” for the offenders.

The ring was led by Superintendent Leslie Gaines, who was in charge of the Farnborough Division of the Brigade in Hampshire. Gaines has since passed away. Hawyes, who was a superintendent himself, was jailed for two years in 1998 after being convicted of indecently assaulting multiple young boys who were cadets in the Brigade. His crimes, some of which involved victims over 30 years old, have left a lasting scar on the community and the victims.

Recently, an undercover reporter tracked Hawyes’s movements over several days, capturing photographs and observing his interactions with children at West Sands Holidays. Disturbingly, the footage shows Hawyes engaging with several children staying at the caravan site, raising serious concerns about his current activities and intentions. Some of these photographs are included in this report, illustrating the ongoing risk posed by individuals with such a criminal background.

Historically, the investigation into the paedophile ring within the St John Ambulance Brigade was extensive. At its peak, around 25 detectives worked on the case, establishing that an organized network of offenders existed within the organization. The inquiry was comparable to a murder investigation in scale and seriousness, reflecting the gravity of the crimes committed and the need for thorough law enforcement action.

In light of these events, authorities and community members continue to grapple with the implications of Hawyes’s presence in the area, emphasizing the importance of vigilance and rigorous checks to protect vulnerable children from potential harm.