MALCOLM WEST: CARDIFF AND HEREFORD SEX OFFENDER BREACHES COURT ORDERS AND SENTENCED FOR HISTORIC CHILD SEX OFFENCES

In July 2023, Malcolm West, a convicted sex offender with a long history of criminal behavior related to child sexual offences, found himself back in legal trouble after breaching a court-imposed order. West, aged 63 and residing in Cardiff, had previously been subjected to a Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO) following his conviction for engaging in sexual communications with a minor. The order, issued in August of the previous year, mandated that he keep his probation officer informed about his whereabouts and any electronic devices he possessed, including mobile phones.

Despite these strict conditions, West failed to disclose the purchase of a mobile phone after his release from prison on March 14 of this year. When probation officers visited his residence on March 30, they inquired about the device, and West admitted that he had simply 'forgotten' to notify them about owning the phone. This omission was considered a breach of the court order, and West was subsequently arrested. He pleaded guilty to the breach of the Sexual Harm Prevention Order during a hearing at Newport Crown Court.

During the proceedings, it was highlighted that West had a troubling criminal history, with a total of 63 previous convictions. His past convictions include sexual offences dating back to the late 1970s and early 1980s, such as intercourse with a girl under 18 in 1979 and 1984, and indecent assault of a girl under 14 in 1993. The court also noted his repeated breaches of court orders, particularly regarding his failure to inform authorities of his changing addresses.

Judge Tracey Lloyd-Clarke, the Recorder of Cardiff, presided over the sentencing. She described West as a persistent sex offender who demonstrated little regard for court orders and legal restrictions. As a result, she sentenced him to eight months in prison. The existing Sexual Harm Prevention Order remains in effect, continuing to restrict West's activities and contact with minors.

In addition to his recent breach, West's criminal record includes a significant case from October 2018. At that time, he was convicted at Hereford Crown Court of multiple child sexual offences committed in Worcester between 1982 and 1985. These offences included two counts of indecency with a child under 16, two counts of indecent assault of children aged 9 to 11, two counts of indecent assault of a child under 14, and two counts of rape of a girl under 16. Following a four-day trial, West, then aged 59 and residing in Weston Beggard, Hereford, was found guilty by a jury and sentenced to 13 years in prison. He was also registered as a sex offender for life.

West's criminal activities and subsequent convictions underscore a long-standing pattern of offending and non-compliance with court orders. His case continues to serve as a stark reminder of the ongoing challenges faced by authorities in managing and monitoring high-risk sex offenders, especially those with extensive criminal histories involving minors.