May 2014 Predatory paedophile whose identity police once tried to keep secret is jailed again after he tricked his way into shop jobs so he could meet children Gavin Shaw, 54, ignored ruling banning him from mixing with children Paedophile with 40 year history of abuse did not tell employers of his past He worked as a volunteer in shops so he could meet young customers Jailed for 18 months for order breach and throwing gas cannister at police Has previously been given jail sentences totalling more than 40 years A predatory paedophile whose identity police once tried to keep a secret has been jailed again after he tricked his way into shop jobs so he could meet children.
Gavin Shaw, 54, was arrested after he ignored a ruling banning him from mixing with children by moving from town to town, getting jobs in shops so he could meet young customers. While working on a voluntary basis at one shop, Shaw, from Nelson, Lancashire, gave one little girl a toy and money as he sat her on his knee, and later became friendly with a boy. Shaw, who has a history of child abuse spanning almost 40 years, was caught after officers visited him at home during a routine risk assessment and found out about his job. As he was being arrested Shaw began to damage his computer and hurled an illegally held CS gas cannister at police, saying: ‘You might as well lock me up for that as well.’ It emerged the shopkeeper who gave Shaw a job knew nothing of his background. Burnley Crown Court heard Shaw had convictions for sex offences dating back to 1975 and had been sent to prison seven times. He had previously tricked another shopkeeper into giving him a job in a different town Four years ago, Shaw was made subject of a ten year Sexual Offences Prevention Order (SOPO) after it emerged he was pretending to be a council officer, dressing up in a high-visibility jacket with his name on it to win the trust of children.
At the time police backed a legal application made by Shaw’s defence team to keep his identity a secret amid fears he would fall victim to vigilante attacks. The application was turned down when sex abuse victims argued that the public had a right to know about his activities. Shaw, once described as a ‘clever child predator’, is now starting an 18 month prison sentence after he admitted breaching the SOPO and possessing a prohibited weapon for the discharge of noxious liquid or gas. The court heard he had convictions for gross indecency, indecent assault and attempted serious sexual offences, and had previously been sentenced to prison terms of seven years, six years, four years and 41 months. The SOPO was imposed in Shaw’s former home town of Blackpool in 2010 just weeks after his release from jail when it emerged he had been adding children as young as 12 as friends on his Facebook page. At the time police found Shaw with a bag of cuddly toys, which he said were for friends who had children. The children – all under sixteen – were present when he went to their homes, leaving parents – who had been friendly with him – ‘horrified’ when they found out about his background. The order banned Shaw from working or associating with anyone under 16 unless supervised, with the prior approval of social services officials. However, in 2012 Shaw was arrested again after moving 40 miles to Morecambe where he was spotted persuading youngsters to get into the back of his van. He had befriended the children after getting a job at a shop in the seaside resort without telling his employers about his criminal record. A local support worker, who had some concerns about Shaw, saw three or four children getting into the back of his van and called the police. It emerged he had taken a child to the beach and had bought him a Manchester United money box. as well as taking pictures of him. In October 2012 Shaw was jailed for 16 months, but after his release moved 54 miles to Nelson and got a job at a shop in the town – again keeping his criminal history a secret from his new employer. Although he was not paid, he regularly worked at the shop and would look after it unattended. Charles Brown, prosecuting said: ‘The prosecution would say there are elements of grooming in these particular circumstances.’ Robert Elias, mitigating, said Shaw had not been convicted of molesting a child for 10 years, and that he had ‘moved on’ from adolescent boys to gay men. ‘He robustly denies having any sexual motive with the two children,’ said Mr Elias. ‘He didn’t seek them out. They came into the shop when he was there. He does have a human need to seek companionship and friendship. ‘He knows and is resigned to a custodial sentence. He doesn’t consider himself to be a threat to children, but that is not the view of the probation service.’ Sentencing, Judge Jonathan Gibson said Shaw was assessed as ‘high-risk’ and told him: ‘Court orders are there to be obeyed.  ‘The sexual offences prevention order is there to protect children.’ October 2012 Paedophile spent time with children A sex offender has been jailed for breaching the terms of an order banning him from having contact with children. Gavin Shaw, 52, of Clark Street, Morecambe, is not allowed to spend time with anyone under 16 years old without prior agreement from social services. But the paedophile, who has previous convictions for serious sex offences against children, spanning back to the 1970s, admitted breaching the order after being spotted taking youngsters in the back of his van. Preston Crown Court heard Shaw had secured himself a job working at a shop but had not told his employers about his sexual offences prevention order (SOPO). Phillip Clarke, prosecuting, told the court a support worker, who had some concerns about Shaw, saw three or four children getting into the back of his van and called the police. Shaw admitted taking the children in the van but said he had been asked to give them a lift. On another occasion Shaw had taken a child to the beach and had bought him a Manchester United money box. Shaw said he had not done anything inappropriate but admitted he had breached the order by spending time with the boy. Judge Simon Newell jailed Shaw for 16 months. He said: “I take the view, having looked at all the facts, that these orders don’t seem to have any effect on you, having regard to the cavalier way you have breached them twice in two years. “I am concerned that although you have been on a course recently to try and improve your employment prospects, when you were offered a course on the sex offenders program you refused to engage. “The fact you were offering the boy (on the beach) money and you weren’t offering his sister money, and the fact you were taking pictures of him causes me concern.”