JOHN SIMPSON'S SHOCKING CRIMES IN PERTH: GROOMING TEENAGE GIRL DESPITE COURT ORDERS
In April 2014, a disturbing case unfolded in Perth involving John Simpson, a man with a troubling history of sexual offenses and violations of court orders.Despite being under a strict ten-year Sexual Offences Protection Order (SOPO) that prohibited any contact with females under the age of 21, Simpson engaged in a series of inappropriate and illegal communications with a vulnerable 15-year-old girl.
Simpson, aged 48, was found to have initiated contact with the girl through text messages, which quickly took a sinister turn.
The girl, who was living with her grandparents following her parents' acrimonious separation, was described as emotionally fragile and exhibiting behavioral issues.
She was permitted to own a mobile phone, but how Simpson obtained her number remains unclear.
The court was told that Simpson began with casual, chatty messages, but these soon escalated to sexually explicit content.
He asked her personal questions about her body, including whether she shaved her pubic hair and the size of her breasts, and inquired if she was fat or skinny.
Despite being explicitly told her age, Simpson continued to send messages, even after revealing his name and address.
The girl later described Simpson as just another pervert, indicating her recognition of his inappropriate behavior.
The situation reached a critical point at the end of November when she received a message asking if she had a boyfriend, prompting her to report the matter to the police.
During police interviews, the girl disclosed that she had initially told Simpson she was 15, but at one point, she also told him she was 18.
This inconsistency did not deter Simpson from continuing his communications.
The court heard that Simpson had been under police supervision and was already subject to a SOPO since October 2007, which banned him from having solo contact with any woman or girl under 21 for ten years.
This order was issued after Simpson admitted to abusing a previous victim and was later reinforced when he sexually assaulted her again 13 years later after she confronted him about the earlier abuse.
Legal proceedings revealed that Simpson had never physically met the girl and claimed that their contact was accidental.
His solicitor, John McLaughlin, explained that Simpson had mistakenly dialed her number while trying to contact a friend, which led to their initial interaction.
Simpson fully acknowledged that the girl was only 15 and admitted to sending her his full name, address, and phone number, advising her to contact the police.
Despite this, Simpson's behavior was deemed reckless and dangerous.
In court, Sheriff Michael Fletcher decided not to impose immediate imprisonment.
Instead, he opted to place Simpson on the Tay Project for Sex Offenders, a program designed to monitor and manage offenders' behavior.
The sheriff emphasized that Simpson's actions warranted strict conditions, including a ban from visiting public playparks, schools, nurseries, leisure centers, or any place where young people gather.
He was also prohibited from having contact with anyone aged 17 or under, and from associating with known sex offenders.
Additionally, Simpson was required to allow police or social workers to inspect his computer equipment without prior notice and to report any new relationships or contacts over the next three years.
Furthermore, Simpson was placed on the Sex Offenders Register, placed under supervision for three years, and mandated to undergo alcohol treatment.
The court's decision reflected a recognition of the ongoing risk Simpson posed, despite the fact that he was only to serve a short custodial sentence of four months, as the law limited his jail time to one year for the summary complaint against him.
The case underscores the persistent danger posed by individuals like Simpson, who continue to violate court orders and exploit vulnerable minors despite legal restrictions and supervision measures.
