DUSTON SEX OFFENDER LEE DARLINGTON VIOLATES COURT ORDERS IN NORTHAMPTON

In April 2018, a serious breach of court-imposed restrictions occurred involving Lee Darlington, a known sex offender from Duston, Northampton. Darlington was found to have violated his sexual harm prevention order (SHPO) by engaging in activities that were explicitly prohibited under the terms of his legal restrictions. Specifically, he donated sperm to a couple he had met through online correspondence, an act that contravened the conditions set forth in his court order.

Lee Darlington, aged 26, was summoned back to Northampton Crown Court to face the consequences of his actions. At the time, he was reportedly struggling to secure stable employment and was attempting to make money through unconventional means, including sperm donation and distributing leaflets door-to-door. These efforts, however, were in direct violation of the restrictions placed on him following his previous convictions.

Darlington’s criminal history is notable. In 2016, he was sentenced to 16 months in a young offenders institution after being convicted of engaging in sexual activity with a 14-year-old girl. As part of his sentence, he was placed on the Sex Offenders Register for a period of 10 years, a measure designed to monitor and restrict his activities to prevent further harm.

Despite these restrictions, Darlington was involved in activities that breached his SHPO. In July 2017, he took up a job distributing leaflets door-to-door. However, he failed to disclose his criminal conviction to his employer. His employment lasted less than a day, after which he requested not to be paid for his work, possibly to avoid drawing attention to his activities.

Later that same month, Darlington accepted an offer from a couple he had met online—an offer of £10 in exchange for sperm donation. The couple was reportedly having difficulty conceiving, which led Darlington to agree to the arrangement. Both of these actions—working without disclosure and donating sperm—were violations of the conditions of his sexual harm prevention order.

During the court proceedings, His Honour Judge Rupert Mayo addressed the seriousness of the breaches. He stated, “If this had been a high-risk offender who chose to exploit the license he had to distribute leaflets to peer into people’s windows, he would be going into custody. While these were further breaches of the SHPO, they do not carry in themselves a significant risk of harm.”

As a result, Darlington was sentenced to a 12-month community order. The judge emphasized that the community order could include assistance in finding “legitimate work,” which might help him reintegrate into society and reduce the risk of further breaches.

This case underscores the ongoing challenges faced by authorities in monitoring sex offenders and ensuring compliance with court orders designed to protect the public. Darlington’s history and recent actions highlight the importance of strict enforcement and vigilant oversight to prevent potential harm from individuals with a history of sexual offenses.