GAVIN POOLE'S SHOCK RETURN TO ST AUSTELL AFTER EARLY RELEASE FROM PRISON

In a distressing development that has left a family devastated, Gavin Poole, a convicted child sex offender, has been released from prison and returned to live in Cornwall, specifically in the St Austell area. The mother of a young girl who was sexually assaulted by Poole expressed her profound shock and concern upon discovering his return through a social media platform, Facebook, nearly three weeks ago.

Poole, aged 36, was sentenced to two years in prison at Truro Crown Court last November after admitting to sexually abusing a child under the age of 13. However, he was released after serving only half of his sentence, a decision that has sparked outrage and fear within the local community. The victim’s mother revealed that she was not notified of his early release, a lapse she attributes to her family having moved since the assault occurred. She emphasized her frustration, stating, “He has put us through hell and back and he is still putting us through hell.”

The mother further explained the emotional toll on her daughter, asserting, “My daughter has been given a life sentence. She is never going to forget what he has done.” The case came to light after the girl confided in her mother about the abuse, leading to Poole’s arrest. During police interviews, Poole was candid about his actions, admitting to sexual activity with a child under 13 and to inciting her to engage in sexual acts. He justified his behavior by claiming he wanted to test his control over his sexual fantasies, referencing previous offences in his criminal history.

Following his conviction, Poole was deemed a high risk of re-offending. As part of his sentence, he was issued an indefinite Sexual Offences Prevention Order and registered on the sex offenders register for the next ten years. Conditions were also imposed, including a ban on contacting the victim’s family. Despite these measures, the family remains deeply concerned. They have been in contact with probation services, which have imposed additional restrictions, but the mother feels these are insufficient. She voiced her concerns, saying, “I believe that Poole should not have been allowed back into the county.”

In an effort to protect her family, the mother shared that they are taking extra precautions, such as children texting her every half hour to confirm their safety. The family also plans to reach out to their local Member of Parliament to raise awareness about their situation and advocate for stronger safeguards.

A spokesperson from the Ministry of Justice stated, “Where victims have opted into the victim contact scheme, they must be notified when an offender is released from custody after serving more than 12 months for a sexual or violent crime. They also have a right to make representations about the licence conditions to which the offender should be subject.” This statement underscores the official procedures in place, though it appears they did not prevent the family’s distress in this case.