MICHAEL TINGLEY OF DOVERCOURT HONEST ABOUT HIS OFFENSE AND SUPPORTS RESTRICTIONS

In October 2010, Michael Tingley, a sex offender from Dovercourt, voluntarily surrendered himself to police after intentionally attempting to abuse a child. During a routine meeting with his probation officer, Tingley admitted that he had gone for a walk in a nearby park with the purpose of harming a child.

He told police that he estimated his chance of reoffending as 9 out of 10. Despite this, Tingley requested that magistrates impose a sexual offences prevention order (SOPO) on him this month, which would restrict his interactions with children.

Although he claimed to police that he is not a danger to the public and was seeking help, he acknowledged the struggle with his impulses, stating, “Sometimes the old me comes creeping back in. I just thought I didn’t want to do it anymore. I didn’t want to hurt the kids anymore.”

He explained his behavior saying, “I got fed up sitting here. Sometimes you just get bored playing on the PlayStation and watching films. And I found myself in the park and I just didn’t want to do it anymore.”

Tingley, who moved to Harwich from Dedham earlier in the year, was registered as a sex offender in November of the previous year. He is planning to relocate to Colchester to better comply with the restrictions of the sexual offences prevention order and to avoid contact with children.

He stated, “I’m just not a danger. There’s no reason for the locals to be wary at all. I would like to go somewhere else without being near schools, parks or beaches and there’s no work here. Ideally it will be Colchester because it’s away from the beach.”

Having been unemployed for a year, Tingley also issued a warning to parents, urging vigilance: “Just keep an eye on your kids from anybody, it doesn’t matter who they are.”

Under the conditions of the SOPO, Tingley is prohibited from communicating with any child under 16, including talking, writing, or sending texts. He is also restricted from approaching within 30 metres of parks, playgrounds, beaches, and schools where children gather. Additionally, he must always be supervised by a parent or guardian who is aware of his offences when around a child.

Police will monitor his mobile phone and residence to ensure compliance with the order.