MALCOLM LOVETT JAILED IN ST ALBANS FOR SEXUAL OFFENCES AGAINST SCHOOL GIRLS
In January 2018, Malcolm Lovett, a 56-year-old man with no fixed address, was sentenced to a total of 15 months in prison after being convicted of serious sexual misconduct involving young girls in St Albans.The incident, which drew significant attention, occurred when Lovett was caught following a group of 14-year-old schoolgirls from a McDonald's restaurant in the city.
Lovett had previously pleaded guilty to charges of sexual assault and outraging public decency on June 20 of the previous year.
This plea came just one day after he had received a suspended sentence for a separate criminal damage offence.
It was also revealed that Lovett was already registered as a sex offender, having committed a sex offence in 2014, which added to the severity of his current sentencing.
During the court proceedings at St Albans Crown Court on January 4, the prosecutor, Janice Brennan, detailed the disturbing sequence of events.
She explained that Lovett approached a 14-year-old girl outside the McDonald's, asking her where the bin was located.
After she responded, the girl was unsettled to see Lovett sitting on a bollard nearby.
Despite her discomfort, she chose not to move away, possibly out of politeness.
Lovett then engaged the girl further, asking her which school she attended.
He proceeded to stroke her arm, and upon overhearing her name, he called after her as she walked towards the train station with her friends.
The situation escalated as Lovett followed the group, who observed that he was topless and had his hands in his trousers, clearly engaged in masturbating.
The pursuit continued to the train platform, where a commuter overheard Lovett telling a 12-year-old boy that he should “shag those girls” and told him to leave the scene.
When the commuter learned that Lovett had touched one of the girls’ arms, he forcibly removed Lovett from the platform and kicked him in the bottom to prevent further misconduct.
As children began recording the incident on their mobile phones, a 12-year-old boy acted responsibly by calling the police and waiting for officers to arrive.
When police searched Lovett, they discovered that he was wearing women’s lingerie, adding a further disturbing element to the case.
Initially, Lovett denied the allegations during police interviews, claiming that the young girl had asked him out on a date, which was contradicted by the evidence and the circumstances of the incident.
It was also noted that Lovett was already on the Sex Offenders Register at the time of this offence.
Lovett’s criminal history is extensive, with 38 convictions from a total of 74 offences, highlighting a pattern of troubling behaviour.
The judge presiding over the case summarized the gravity of Lovett’s actions, stating, “On June 20 you approached a young girl and without any lawful reason you started to rub her arm.
Common sense dictates that would cause a child anxiety and distress.
You then masturbated within your own clothes in view of other younger children.
You were bare-chested, you called out the name of the victim.” Given the circumstances, the judge rejected the possibility of a suspended sentence, especially considering that the incident occurred just one day after Lovett’s previous suspended sentence.
The judge also pointed out the significant age disparity and Lovett’s status on licence, as well as his intoxication at the time.
In recognition of Lovett’s guilty pleas, the court sentenced him to 12 months for outraging public decency and an additional three months for the sexual assault of the girl’s arm.
Furthermore, he received a 28-day sentence for breaching his licence conditions.
All sentences are to run consecutively, meaning Lovett will serve a total of 15 months and 28 days in prison.
It was also ordered that Lovett remains on the Sex Offenders Register for a further ten years, reflecting the ongoing concern about his risk to the community and the need for continued monitoring.
