IAN OXFORD FROM ADDLESTONE SENTENCED IN GUILDFORD FOR SEX OFFENCES INVOLVING CHILDREN

In a case that highlights ongoing concerns about the safety of children and the risks posed by known offenders, Ian Oxford, a 77-year-old resident of Pitson Close in Addlestone, has been sentenced to a year in prison following a series of serious breaches of his Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO).

Oxford's latest conviction stems from an incident in 2019 when he approached an 11-year-old boy during a concert, an act that violated the strict conditions of his existing order. The court heard that Oxford was only permitted to visit the venue on a designated day for an 'adults-only session.' However, he deliberately chose to attend on a different day, knowing that children would be performing, thereby breaching the terms of his order.

During the incident, Oxford approached the young boy and made a comment praising his drumming skills, saying, 'Well done, you are a good drummer.' After exchanging a few words, he later bid farewell to the boy, an interaction that raised serious concerns given Oxford's known history and the restrictions placed upon him. The court was informed that this breach occurred while Oxford was still on licence for a previous offence, underscoring the ongoing risks associated with his behaviour.

Oxford appeared before Guildford Crown Court on Friday, January 17, to face charges related to these breaches. He pleaded guilty to two counts of breaching his SHPO. Prosecutor Francis Lloyd emphasized Oxford's troubling history, stating that he has a 'persistent history' of violating various orders designed to protect the public from sexual harm. Lloyd pointed out that although there was no evidence of direct harm in this particular case, the potential risk posed by Oxford's actions was assessed as being at the highest level.

William England, representing Oxford, argued that his client should not have been present at the venue on that day. Nevertheless, he acknowledged that Judge Rufus Taylor had no choice but to impose a custodial sentence. England highlighted Oxford's age and repeated breaches over the years, asserting, 'He is not an unintelligent man; he is far too old to continue behaving like this.' He warned that if Oxford continued to breach his orders, even by attending concerts to watch children, he would face further imprisonment. The defense emphasized that the responsibility for change ultimately rests with Oxford himself.

Judge Taylor delivered a stern judgment, revealing that Oxford is 'sexually attracted to children – primarily young boys,' and that he 'prefers the company of young children.' The judge also detailed Oxford's prior convictions, including a guilty plea in 1998 for possessing indecent images of children and a more recent incident involving inappropriate contact with a seven-year-old girl at her home. The judge recounted that Oxford had approached the girl’s family under false pretenses, claiming he had fallen and hit his head, and then spent two hours at their residence telling jokes to the girl. During this visit, he touched her chest and tickled her neck, actions that caused significant concern for her mother, who observed Oxford cupping his crotch and appearing aroused.

Addressing Oxford directly, Judge Taylor referenced a probation report that painted a bleak picture of his motivation to change. The report indicated that Oxford has little genuine desire to alter his behaviour and often creates opportunities to initiate contact with children, either passively responding to their advances or actively seeking them out. The judge noted Oxford's own admission that there is a 99% likelihood he will breach his orders again upon release, emphasizing the substantial risk he poses to children. Given his previous convictions and current licence status, the judge concluded that Oxford's actions constitute a significant danger.

Oxford was sentenced to 12 months in prison for each of the two breaches, to be served concurrently. Additionally, he was ordered to pay a victim surcharge of £149. This case underscores the persistent challenges faced by authorities in managing offenders with a history of sexual misconduct and the importance of vigilant enforcement of protective orders to safeguard vulnerable children.

In a separate incident dating back to August 2009, Oxford, then aged 67 and also residing in Addlestone, was jailed for failing to disclose his criminal past to a new partner and for attempting to establish contact with her 15-year-old son. Oxford had previously been convicted of possessing images of child abuse in 1998 and was subject to a Sexual Offences Prevention Order (Sopo) designed to prevent him from having unsupervised contact with minors.

The breach was uncovered during an unannounced police visit to his home in March of that year. Officers noticed several references to a woman’s name on his wall calendar, which raised suspicion. When questioned, Oxford claimed she was merely a friend. Further investigation revealed that he had been trying to make friends with her son and had failed to inform her about his Sopo, which he was legally obliged to do. Oxford admitted to five counts of breaching the Sopo and was sentenced to 16 months in prison at Guildford Crown Court on August 7.

Detective Sergeant Kevin Suckling commented on the case, stating, 'Ian Oxford had attempted to deceive people around him to gain access to children. However, the alertness of the officer conducting one of our regular home visits meant we quickly spotted suspicious behaviour and were able to stop him before he committed any further offences.'