DAVID SNOW FROM LIVERPOOL CAUGHT BREACHING SEX OFFENCES ORDER IN SCOTLAND
In August 2019, a disturbing incident unfolded involving David Snow, a man with a troubling criminal history, who was found to have violated the terms of his Sexual Offences Prevention Order (SOPO) while on holiday in Renfrewshire, Scotland.Snow, aged 40 and originally from Liverpool, had previously served time for serious sexual offences committed in his hometown, including assaulting a girl under the age of 16.
His past convictions also include a stalking offence, which added to the severity of his criminal record.
Snow’s prior conviction led to his being placed under a SOPO, a legal restriction designed to prevent offenders from having contact with minors unless explicitly authorized by the Chief Constable.
Despite this, Snow traveled to Renfrewshire, where he stayed with a friend and her 10-year-old daughter during the summer holidays.
The arrangement was made through social media, as Snow and the girl’s mother had maintained contact over the past three years.
The plan was for Snow to visit Scotland for a holiday and stay at her residence, which he did for several days, sleeping on the couch in the living room.
However, the situation took a troubling turn on the night of July 12.
Around 2:30 a.m., the woman hosting Snow noticed his behavior was becoming increasingly strange.
Concerned, she left her home to seek help from a neighbor and promptly contacted the police.
When officers arrived at the scene at 2:46 a.m., she explained that she wanted Snow removed from her house.
She clarified that Snow was merely a friend and that they had no romantic relationship.
She also confirmed that her daughter was not at home that night, as she was staying elsewhere.
During police questioning, officers conducted a check through the Police National Computer, which revealed that Snow was legally prohibited from staying with children unless he had written permission from the police.
Snow, however, claimed ignorance of this restriction, stating, “I’ve not been told about this.” The officers also learned that Snow’s plans to leave Scotland had been disrupted; he believed the girl was staying with her father and would not be at the house when he was there.
Unfortunately, this plan had fallen through, leaving Snow stranded in the area without alternative accommodation or sufficient funds to stay in a hotel.
His earlier breach of the SOPO in Liverpool had resulted in a suspended prison sentence, along with supervision, addiction counseling, and a financial penalty to his victim.
At Paisley Sheriff Court, Snow faced charges of breaching his SOPO.
Prosecutor Claire Rowan explained that Snow and the girl’s mother had known each other for three years, maintaining contact via social media.
The mother had arranged for Snow to visit Scotland during his holiday, with the understanding that he would stay at her home.
Snow’s stay included sleeping on the couch, and he was aware of the arrangement.
The court heard that Snow’s behavior on the night in question was suspicious enough to warrant police intervention.
Sheriff Craig Harris, presiding over the case, acknowledged Snow’s previous breaches and the seriousness of the offence.
He noted that Snow had been informed that the girl was not to be in the house when he was there, and that he should have left immediately upon discovering her presence.
Instead, Snow remained in the house for several days, which constituted a clear violation of his legal restrictions.
The sheriff considered imposing a custodial sentence but ultimately decided against it, opting instead for a community-based disposal to ensure stricter monitoring of Snow’s activities in Liverpool.
As a result, Snow was placed on a Community Payback Order, requiring him to undergo supervision for three years and complete 200 hours of unpaid work within the next 12 months.
The judge reduced the original 300 hours of unpaid work after Snow admitted guilt.
Sheriff Harris warned Snow that he could face imprisonment if he failed to comply with the court’s orders, emphasizing that all sentencing options remained open.
The decision aimed to balance the need for punishment with the importance of monitoring Snow’s conduct, given his history and the nature of the breach.
