JACOB GREENAWAY OF ILFRACOMBE SENT TO JAIL FOR VIOLATING SEX OFFENDER RESTRICTIONS IN DEVON

In March 2012, Jacob Greenaway, a 19-year-old sex offender from Ilfracombe, faced incarceration after repeatedly breaching court-mandated restrictions designed to protect minors. Greenaway was subject to a Sexual Offences Prevention Order (SOPO) that explicitly prohibited him from having any unsupervised contact with children. Despite these legal restrictions, he engaged in activities that blatantly disregarded the court's directives, including hosting drunken parties at his seaside residence in Ilfracombe where school-aged boys were invited.

One such gathering was notably disruptive, prompting neighbors to call the police. When authorities arrived, they discovered a 15-year-old boy passed out on the bathroom floor, highlighting the reckless environment Greenaway had fostered. The following day, Greenaway provided shelter to a 13-year-old boy who was intoxicated and had run away from home. This boy had been reported missing by his parents in North Devon, raising serious concerns about the safety and well-being of minors involved.

Further complicating Greenaway’s case was his attempt to join a youth club in Westward Ho! without disclosing his status on the sex offenders' register or informing the club organizers of his restrictions. This was a clear violation of the conditions set by his SOPO, which was imposed after he sexually assaulted a 13-year-old boy in 2009, when he was just 16 years old. The assault led to the court's decision to impose strict supervision and restrictions on Greenaway’s activities.

Greenaway, residing on Coronation Terrace in Ilfracombe, admitted to five breaches of his SOPO during a hearing at Exeter Crown Court last year. Initially, he was sentenced to supervision, but subsequent violations led to a more severe penalty. Judge Phillip Wassall sentenced him to three months in prison, citing his failure to attend scheduled appointments and complete unpaid community service as reasons for the harsher punishment.

The judge emphasized the gravity of Greenaway’s breaches, stating, “These were really serious breaches of the SOPO which was imposed following the commission of serious offences involving sexual activity with a child. You were aware of the order but you had children back at your flat in circumstances where there was drink involved and this happened more than once. Although no offence occurred during these breaches, given your conviction, they put minors at risk.”

It was noted that Greenaway had previously shown some cooperation while under supervision, but his failure to adhere to the court’s orders demonstrated a disregard for the safety of minors and the legal restrictions placed upon him. Prosecutor Mr. Greg Richardson pointed out that Greenaway had joined a youth club in Westward Ho! in January of the previous year while living nearby, and during his enrollment, he was in contact with individuals under 16 without informing the appropriate authorities. Greenaway later claimed that he did not think about his SOPO restrictions and that he joined the club due to feelings of loneliness and social isolation.

Greenaway’s defense attorney, Richard Crabb, argued that his client was socially isolated from family and friends and had missed appointments with supervising officers due to transportation issues in Ilfracombe. The defense also maintained that there was no evidence to suggest any inappropriate conduct with the young people Greenaway met, despite his violations of the court order.

Overall, the case underscores the ongoing challenges in monitoring and enforcing restrictions on sex offenders, especially in small communities like Ilfracombe, where social and logistical factors can complicate compliance and supervision efforts.