ERIC KENNY FROM MIDDLESBROUGH REARRESTED FOR BREACHING SEX OFFENCES ORDER

In May 2010, Eric Kenny, a man with a troubling criminal history, was once again taken into custody after violating the strict conditions set by the court to monitor his conduct following his previous convictions. Kenny, aged 52 and residing on Linthorpe Road in Middlesbrough, had previously served a lengthy prison sentence but continued to pose a risk due to his actions and breaches of legal restrictions.

Initially, Kenny had claimed to have served a 15-year sentence for armed robbery, a story he fabricated to conceal the fact that he was convicted of serious sexual offenses. In reality, he was sentenced in March 1997 to 15 years in prison after being found guilty of multiple heinous crimes, including the rape of a six-year-old girl, with additional convictions for raping an 11-year-old girl and committing four counts of indecent assault on a girl under 14. These grave offenses underscored the severity of his criminal record, which cast a long shadow over his subsequent release.

Following his release in November 2006, Kenny was subject to strict supervision, including requirements to keep in regular contact with police and the Public Protection Unit. He was mandated to reside at an approved address and was explicitly prohibited from having contact with anyone under the age of 18. Despite these restrictions, Kenny breached the terms of his release multiple times, including failing to notify authorities of a change of address, which is a violation of the Sexual Offenders’ Register.

In September of the previous year, Teesside magistrates imposed a Sexual Offences Prevention Order (SOPO) against Kenny, further restricting his interactions with minors. Despite these legal safeguards, authorities received intelligence indicating that Kenny had been entering a family home, raising concerns about his compliance with the court’s orders. On the evening of February 10, police arrested him at his Middlesbrough residence after gathering evidence of his violations.

During court proceedings, prosecutor Paul Cleasby highlighted that Kenny had lied about his past, claiming to have served only a 15-year sentence for armed robbery, rather than admitting to his true and more serious convictions for child sexual offenses. The court was told that Kenny had been involved in a series of breaches, including failing to update his address on the Sexual Offenders’ Register and having contact with children, which he had previously denied.

Defense lawyer Duncan McReddie presented a different perspective, stating that a woman with whom Kenny had been involved had written a letter to the judge. She expressed her continued support for Kenny and assured the court that her children had never been in any danger from him. Despite this, Judge Peter Bowers emphasized the importance of adhering to the court’s orders, underscoring that these restrictions are designed not only to protect the individual but also to safeguard the public.

Judge Bowers sentenced Kenny to two and a half years in prison. The sentence comprised 18 months for his return to custody and an additional 12 months for the 19 breaches of the Sexual Offences Prevention Order and one breach of the Sex Offenders’ Register committed between October of the previous year and February, all of which Kenny admitted. This case highlights the ongoing challenges faced by authorities in monitoring and controlling individuals with a history of sexual offenses, especially when they violate court-imposed restrictions in the community.