BRIGHTON PAEDOPHILE DANIEL GREGORY/CHRISTOPHER ADAMS CAUGHT AFTER MANCHESTER TIP-OFF

In April 2003, law enforcement authorities in Sussex successfully apprehended a convicted sex offender who had attempted to evade detection by adopting a new identity. The individual, originally known as Daniel Gregory, had changed his name to Christopher Adams and relocated to Brighton following his release from a six-year imprisonment sentence. Despite his efforts to conceal his past, Adams continued to harbor inappropriate interests in young boys, which ultimately led to his downfall.

Adams secured employment at the Palace Pier in Brighton, where he was tasked with supervising children on rides. His employment was facilitated by the fact that he was not solely responsible for child supervision, which meant that the pier's routine checks did not flag his criminal history. However, authorities in Sussex were alerted to his presence after colleagues in Manchester, where Adams had been residing after his release, raised concerns when he failed to attend scheduled appointments with probation officers.

Following these suspicions, police officers raided Adams' flat in Brighton. During the search, they uncovered disturbing evidence, including a photograph of a naked boy, documents related to nudism, and materials describing children's games. Additionally, they found pay slips from the pier, which confirmed his employment there. These findings reinforced the suspicion that Adams was still involved in activities inappropriate for someone with his criminal background.

At the age of 36, Adams faced justice once again. He had previously served time for indecently assaulting a 14-year-old boy. His latest arrest culminated in his appearance at Hove Crown Court, where he pleaded guilty to multiple charges under the Sexual Offences Act, including two counts of sexual offences and one count of obtaining a pecuniary advantage through deception. The court sentenced him to four and a half years in prison.

During the proceedings, Adams' defense lawyer, Ahmed Hussein, acknowledged that his client’s feelings towards children had not changed since his release from prison. Hussein explained that Adams was aware of his need for professional help and expressed remorse. He also highlighted that Adams had been subjected to regular police visits, which contributed to his decision to move and change his name without informing authorities, in an attempt to avoid detection and the sex offenders register.

Detective Superintendent Alan Ladley, who has been involved in high-profile investigations such as the murder of Sarah Payne and now oversees the supervision of registered sex offenders in Sussex, commented on the case. He emphasized the importance of inter-agency cooperation, stating, “Police forces and multi-agency public protection panels across the country work closely together and conduct rigorous checks to prevent sex offenders from reoffending.”

Ladley further explained that additional verification processes, such as checks with the Criminal Record Bureau, are in place for those seeking employment involving children. However, in Adams’ case, the employment at the Palace Pier did not trigger such checks because he was not solely responsible for supervising children. He praised the collaborative effort between police forces in Brighton and Manchester, which led to Adams’ arrest, as an example of the effectiveness of the current system in safeguarding children from known offenders.