PRISON FOR SEX OFFENDER WHO LED CHILDREN TO HIS HOME
A man has been sentenced to prison after being found guilty of sexually assaulting a boy and multiple violations of his Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO).Malcolm Montgomery, aged 67, from Llys Esgob Morgan, Is Terfyn, St Asaph, received a 27-month term at Mold Crown Court on November 29.
The court was informed that in 2006, Montgomery had previously been imprisoned for seven years at Liverpool Crown Court following the sexual abuse of a 14-year-old; he was also subject to an indefinite SHPO.
This order restricted him from working with children and from being in the company of minors under 16 unless under adult supervision.
Despite this, he was accused of breaching the SHPO during May and June 2022 by allowing children into his home and attempting to entice them with cigarettes and vapes.
Prosecutor Nicholas Williams explained that Montgomery committed a sexual assault on a 13-year-old boy by touching his genitals over his clothes.
Montgomery had shared the gate code with children, enabling them to visit him freely, and a neighbor testified that children frequently gathered outside his gate.
The neighbor described these incidents as occurring quite often.
A victim recounted visiting Montgomery’s house with a friend and older students, initially told he could buy cigarettes from Montgomery.
It took several visits before he was invited inside; on one occasion, Montgomery asked him to watch football and promised to give him items he wanted.
The boy disclosed his age as 13 and was seen in school uniform at times.
After several visits, Montgomery started asking inappropriate, sexual questions, and eventually, he touched the boy’s genitals over his clothing, leading the boy to cease visiting.
Another child only went into Montgomery’s house twice, feeling uncomfortable and noting Montgomery’s strange questions.
A 12-year-old girl visited multiple times, once sitting in Montgomery’s lounge for an hour, during which he claimed his wife had died and he felt lonely before giving her a necklace.
Following his arrest, Montgomery admitted that a child had been visiting regularly but claimed the sexual exchanges were initiated by the boys.
He acknowledged giving cigarettes, including while children were in school uniforms, but denied any sexual contact with the boy he allegedly touched.
Montgomery also stated he did not remember his SHPO or the conditions attached to it.
Defense attorney Sarah Yates argued there was little evidence of harm beyond Montgomery’s guilty plea, describing him as a lonely individual who made poor decisions.
She noted that since June, during his detention, he had been productive, finding employment, and engaging with mental health services for depression and suicidal ideation.
Yates added that Montgomery planned to leave North Wales to be closer to family.
The judge, Rhys Rowlands, ordered Montgomery to serve 27 months, to remain on the sex offender register indefinitely, and to be barred from working with children or vulnerable adults.
He also imposed a victim surcharge of £190, payable after Montgomery’s release.
The judge remarked that Montgomery was fully aware of the SHPO restrictions and condemned his breaches, emphasising that the order was designed to protect children from further harm.
He criticised Montgomery’s deliberate violations and sexual misconduct, ruling that his actions appeared calculated, with no immediate potential for rehabilitation at this time.
