HOWARD POOTS, THE SEX OFFENDER FROM DROMORE AND MIDDLETON, FINALLY CAUGHT IN IRELAND

In a significant development in a long-standing case of sexual assault, Howard Poots, a 58-year-old man with connections to Dromore and Middleton, has been apprehended after nearly five years on the run. The case dates back to January 2005 when Poots was accused of sexually abusing a teenage girl in Middleton. The victim, who was under 16 at the time, reported the abuse the day after the incident, revealing that Poots had been assaulting her for a period of seven years. This revelation prompted a police investigation that led to Poots's initial arrest and subsequent charging.

However, Poots did not face the consequences in court as expected. He managed to evade justice by skipping bail and fleeing the country. His departure took him to Ireland, where he became part of a travelling community, making it difficult for authorities to track him down. Despite his move to Ireland, police believe that Poots continued to work as a long-distance lorry driver, crossing the border into Northern Ireland to earn a living. This ongoing activity kept him within reach of law enforcement, although he remained at large for several years.

It was only earlier this year that police in Cheshire managed to locate and arrest Poots. His arrest occurred during a routine traffic stop involving a heavy goods vehicle (HGV) he was driving. During the stop, officers discovered that Poots was operating with a false driving license. Further checks revealed his identity and confirmed that he was a wanted man. This breakthrough led to his extradition and subsequent appearance in court.

At Bolton Crown Court, Poots, who was formerly residing on Thornhill Drive in Dromore, County Down, pleaded guilty to charges of sexually assaulting a girl under the age of 16 and failing to appear at court. His guilty plea resulted in a substantial prison sentence of six years and nine months. Additionally, the court ordered Poots to sign the sex offenders register for life and imposed a lifelong ban on working with children, reflecting the severity of his crimes and the need for ongoing public protection.

Detective Constable Andy Pilling commented on the case, emphasizing the importance of police diligence. He stated, “Poots must have thought he had cheated justice after he fled to Ireland. However, when he fled to Northern Ireland he still needed to make a living so continued to work as a long-distance lorry driver. Thanks to the diligence of those officers from Cheshire he is now where he belongs – behind bars. I hope this will be of some comfort for his victim.”