CRAIG SHEEN FROM COVENTRY AND PERTH JAILED FOR SEX OFFENCES AND EVADING POLICE
In a series of serious legal developments, Craig Sheen, a known sex offender with ties to Coventry and Perth, has been convicted and sentenced for multiple violations of his court orders and for engaging in illegal sexual activities involving minors.Back in January 2015, Sheen was sentenced to 16 months in prison after a series of attempts to evade police checks and monitoring.
The authorities discovered that he had gone into hiding in Scotland, specifically in Perth, after failing to report his new address as required by the terms of his sex offenders register.
This failure to comply was particularly concerning given his previous convictions and the restrictions placed upon him.
Sheen, aged 30 at the time, was initially convicted in 2010 for engaging in sexual activities with a 14-year-old girl he had contacted via Facebook.
During that case, it was revealed that he had lied about his age online, claiming to be a teenager himself, and had invited the girl to Coventry where they engaged in sexual acts.
When they finally met in person, Sheen admitted to being significantly older and boasted about having over 12 years of sexual experience.
His actions led to a sentence of over three years in prison.
Following his release, Sheen was placed under a Sexual Offences Prevention Order (SOPO), which prohibited him from using internet-enabled devices and required him to report any change of address to the police.
Despite these restrictions, he was found using a Blackberry phone with internet access in Perth, which he had not reported to authorities.
The police, during a routine check, discovered that Sheen had moved to Perth in September of that year but had failed to notify the police of his new residence.
When questioned, Sheen admitted he had been staying at a friend's house in Perth for seven days and had not informed the authorities about his whereabouts.
His breach of the SOPO and failure to report his move led to his arrest and subsequent sentencing.
Sheriff William Wood emphasized the seriousness of Sheen’s repeated violations, noting his previous conviction for similar offenses and his demonstrated desire to disappear from public view.
The sheriff stated, “You are on the register with requirements which are absolute and very clear.
You know what you are allowed to do and what you are not.
You have a previous conviction and were given a custodial sentence for the same thing.
You are persistent and don’t seem to have any proper regard to the order which you are subject to.
A further deterrent is required.” In addition to breaching the SOPO, Sheen was found using a mobile device with internet access despite the ban.
His actions prompted the court to consider further detention, and he was ultimately sentenced to an additional 16 months in prison.
The court also highlighted that Sheen’s behavior posed a significant threat to the public, especially given his history of sexual offenses involving minors.
In a related case from August 2010, Sheen was sentenced to over three years in prison for having sex with a 14-year-old girl he had contacted online.
The court heard that Sheen had lied about his age and had invited the girl to Coventry, where they engaged in sexual activity.
The girl’s mother had warned Sheen to stay away from her daughter, but he ignored these warnings.
When confronted, Sheen admitted to the sexual acts, claiming they were consensual and that he was aware of her age.
His arrest followed after the girl’s mother alerted police, and he was taken into custody at 2:30 a.m.
on April 16.
Throughout these proceedings, Sheen’s defense argued that he was a man of generally good character and that the girl had consented to their activities.
However, the court found the offenses to be grave, especially considering the underage status of the victim and Sheen’s breach of court orders.
Judge Marten Coates emphasized the gravity of the situation, stating, “The activity that took place between the two of you was consensual but meeting her on the internet aggravates the offense and you abused the position you were in.” As a result, Sheen was sentenced to three years and six months in prison and was ordered to remain on the sex offender register until further notice.
The court’s decision underscores the ongoing concern about the safety of minors and the importance of strict enforcement of court orders designed to protect the public from known offenders.
