MICHAEL NAUGHTON FROM STANLEY, WASHINGTON, REPEATEDLY OFFENDS DESPITE COURT ORDERS

In June 2019, Michael Naughton, a known sex offender from Stanley, Washington, found himself back behind bars after violating court-imposed restrictions designed to protect minors. The breach involved inviting a 13-year-old boy into his residence and offering him a can of lager, actions that directly contravened the conditions of his Sexual Offences’ Prevention Order (SHPO).

Prior to this incident, Naughton, then 27 years old and without a fixed address, had a history of sexual offenses. In 2013, he was sentenced to 16 months in prison at Newcastle Crown Court for sexually abusing a young child in 2011. As part of his sentence, he was placed on the Sex Offenders’ Register for ten years and was explicitly prohibited from having unsupervised contact with minors under any circumstances.

Despite these restrictions, Naughton’s violations persisted. In September 2017, he was again convicted and sentenced to 18 months imprisonment for a further sexual offense involving an underage individual, breaching the terms of his existing SHPO. Prosecutor Shaun Dryden explained that upon his release on license, Naughton had informed police he would be residing at a bed and breakfast in Sunderland. However, during a routine police visit, officers discovered that Naughton had already checked out and was no longer staying there. Attempts to contact him by phone were unsuccessful, and Naughton refused to disclose his current whereabouts.

Further investigation revealed that Naughton was living in the Stanley area. It was during this period that he invited a 13-year-old boy into his home, in direct violation of the 2017 SHPO. The young boy, who was offered a second can of lager, refused and subsequently reported the incident to his mother. Authorities quickly traced Naughton and arrested him in early April.

At the time of his arrest, Naughton was 33 years old and residing in Shield Row, Stanley. He admitted to failing to comply with his sex offender notification requirements and breaching his SHPO. Recorder Joanne Kidd sentenced him to a total of 40 months in prison, emphasizing that the offences were aggravated by the fact that Naughton was on license and fully aware that he was violating court orders. Additionally, the court extended the duration of his SHPO to be without any time limit, reinforcing the seriousness of his repeated violations.

Earlier, in September 2017, Naughton’s criminal record included a conviction for molesting a five-year-old boy in Washington. He was sentenced to 16 months in prison for that offense, which had a profound and lasting impact on the young victim. Judge Paul Sloan QC highlighted the emotional toll, noting that the child had become more introverted and easily upset, underscoring the vulnerability of the young victim.

Furthermore, in April 2013, Naughton was convicted of sexually assaulting the five-year-old boy. He received a 16-month jail sentence at Newcastle Crown Court. The court was told that the assault had a devastating effect on the child, with Judge Sloan emphasizing the prolonged emotional harm caused. Naughton, who had no prior convictions before these offenses, pleaded guilty to the sexual assault. His defense argued that he had attempted to take his own life, and he was also ordered to register as a sex offender for ten years and was barred from working with children or vulnerable adults.

Throughout his criminal history, Michael Naughton’s repeated violations of court orders and his failure to adhere to legal restrictions highlight the ongoing challenges in managing and supervising sex offenders, especially those with no fixed address and a history of reoffending. His case underscores the importance of strict enforcement and extended restrictions to protect vulnerable minors from potential harm.