April 2007 Paedophile, 77, avoids jail term THE families of three schoolgirls who were indecently assaulted by a pensioner erupted in fury after he was spared jail. Dennis Roe, 77, of Salisbury Avenue, westcliff, was given a three-year community rehabilitation order and ordered to take part in a sex offenders’ programme. After Judge Christopher Mitchell sentenced him at Basildon Crown Court, one man left the public gallery and tried to approach the judge’s bench, asking why Roe hadn’t been jailed and shouting abuse at the defendant. Other angry relatives also shouted insults at Roe, before police escorted them out of the court room. Roe was convicted of indecently assaulting a 12-year-old girl in October 1994 and committing a similar offence against an 11-year-old in 1999. During the trial, a third victim came forward and claimed Roe had indecently assaulted her in her home when she was seven. Roe later pleaded guilty to this offence. Judge Mitchell told Roe, who cares for his sick wife, that in his view the best way of dealing with him was to ensure he was given the help he needed. He said: “It is clear that as far as the offences against the first two victims are concerned, they may well warrant a short term of prison. But as I have observed, a short term of imprisonment will not do you any good. “The sex offenders’ group programme is not a soft option.” Roe, who has no previous convictions, was also ordered to sign on the sex offenders’ register for five years.