LEE SAVAGE AND HIS SHOCKING CRIMES IN PLYMOUTH AND TAUNTON
A convicted child sex offender from Devon, Lee Savage, has caused alarm after moving into a domestic setting with a woman in Taunton without fully disclosing his criminal past.Savage, aged 41, appeared to integrate himself into the family life, spending most of his time at the residence in Taunton, despite his known history and legal restrictions.
His actions and the subsequent discovery reveal a troubling pattern of deception and non-compliance with court orders.
Savage was subject to a Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO) that explicitly banned him from having contact with children.
Despite this, he defied the restrictions, choosing not to inform police or probation services of his actual living arrangements.
Instead, he concealed the fact that he did not reside regularly at his registered address in Plymouth.
His falsehoods came to light when a suspicious family member decided to search his name online, uncovering his status as a registered sex offender with a record that includes prior grooming offences.
The family member's discovery acted as a catalyst for police intervention.
Following the revelation, Savage quickly vacated the property, but law enforcement officers arrested him and returned him to court for further proceedings.
Savage, who was previously residing on Keyham Road in Plymouth, faced serious charges.
He ultimately received a two-year jail sentence after admitting to breaching his SHPO and failing to comply with notification requirements.
His admission confirmed he had violated the restrictions placed upon him.
According to prosecutor Mr James Adam, Savage had been released on licence following a prior prison sentence handed down for attempting to meet a girl under 16 through grooming activities in 2020.
Instead of maintaining residence at his official address in Plymouth, Savage engaged in a relationship with a mother of two in Taunton.
Over a period leading up to his arrest in November, he spent approximately 101 days in the Taunton area.
During this time, he was not reported to have been alone with the woman’s children in private, and there was no evidence of any sexual offences committed directly within that context.
It was noted, however, that Savage had offered to look after the children and had created the impression that he was part of the family unit, which was deemed concerning.
The relationship itself ended after the sister of Savage’s partner conducted an online search of his name.
The discovery of his 2017 conviction—arising from an incident where he was caught by paedophile hunters—led her to post details publicly on the internet.
This action triggered an investigation by police authorities.
A key legal violation centered around Savage's failure to update his address with authorities, which constituted a breach of his notification obligations.
Additionally, by maintaining contact with the children in the household without informed consent from the parents, he further violated the terms of his SHPO.
His former partner expressed feelings of regret and criticism, describing her anger at herself for allowing Savage into her life.
She felt groomed by his manipulative behaviour.
Savage’s criminal history extends back to 2010, including convictions for sexual activity with a girl under 16 and possession of indecent images of children.
Furthermore, he previously breached his lifetime SHPO, underscoring a pattern of disregard for legal restrictions.
During the proceedings, Ms Evie Dean, representing Savage, cited his difficult childhood and the upheaval caused by his release during the COVID-19 pandemic as contributing factors.
She claimed that Savage acknowledged his wrongdoings and expressed remorse.
Judge Anna Richardson highlighted the seriousness of Savage’s actions, stating: “Although you told police about your Plymouth address, you spent little time there and fully involved yourself in family life in Taunton.” She emphasized that Savage’s breaches were persistent and that he had a documented history of ignoring court orders.
As part of the court's measures, a ten-year restraining order was issued, forbidding Savage from making contact with the family and ensuring ongoing legal restrictions.
