CRAIG BEDDOWS SENT TO PRISON FOR BREACHING SEXUAL HARM PREVENTION ORDER IN HOLSWORTHY

A man named Craig Beddows, aged 55, has been sentenced to prison after repeatedly violating a court-imposed Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO) that was put in place to safeguard children. The breaches involved Beddows establishing contact with two mothers in the Holsworthy area, despite being legally required to disclose his past and refrain from such interactions.

According to court records, Beddows failed to inform the women about his previous convictions and history of sexual offences, which was a direct violation of the conditions set by the court. Despite this, he maintained regular contact with four boys, although he did not commit any sexual offences against them, nor was he ever left alone with the children. Nonetheless, the judge at Exeter Crown Court emphasized that Beddows’s actions constituted persistent and deliberate breaches of the court order.

It was reported that Beddows would often give presents to the children and liked to be called 'Uncle Craig,' which added to concerns about his interactions with minors. The court heard that Beddows, who resides on Wolborough Street, admitted to four breaches of the order and was subsequently sentenced to 20 months in prison.

The court was also informed that Beddows has led a largely isolated life, having been shunned by his family due to his previous offending behavior. His criminal history dates back to 2003 when he was convicted of indecent assault against girls under the age of 16. This history has contributed to his social withdrawal and the ongoing scrutiny of his interactions with children.

Prosecutor Mr. Ian Graham explained that Beddows had befriended a woman and, over approximately a year, came into contact with her children. Although there was no evidence of inappropriate behavior towards the children, the woman was unaware of Beddows’s past and the restrictions imposed on him. When she and others learned about his history, they felt betrayed and distressed.

Additionally, Beddows formed a friendship with another mother. While there was no suggestion that he behaved inappropriately towards her children, he failed to disclose his contact with them to his offender manager, which was another breach of his legal obligations.

Defending Beddows, barrister Mr. Barry White argued that his client’s previous offences involved girls and that he did not pose a risk to boys. However, the judge, Recorder Timothy Kenefick, pointed out that Beddows had multiple prior convictions for sexual offences involving children under 16 and had repeatedly breached notification orders. The court noted that Beddows’s pattern of befriending mothers with young children and maintaining contact with their children, despite knowing he was not permitted to do so, was deeply concerning.

While acknowledging Beddows’s solitary lifestyle and the loneliness he experienced, the judge emphasized that this was not the first breach of the order and that prison was the appropriate course of action given the circumstances. As a result, Beddows was sentenced to 20 months behind bars, reflecting the seriousness with which the court viewed his violations and the ongoing risk posed by his actions.