MICHAEL WILSON'S REIGN OF TERROR IN BLACKBURN: SERIAL SEX OFFENDER BACK BEHIND BARS

In a troubling development that has sent shockwaves through the Blackburn community, Michael Wilson, a man with a long and disturbing history of sexual offenses against minors, has been returned to prison after a brief period of apparent freedom. Wilson, aged 44, who has accumulated five convictions for sex crimes against boys since 1983, was released from his latest incarceration last Friday. However, just days later, he vanished from his Blackburn residence, prompting a swift police investigation.

Wilson's disappearance on Monday raised immediate concerns given his notorious background. Fortunately, thanks to a media appeal, he was located in Kirkham the following afternoon. Witnesses had spotted him, which led to his identification and subsequent arrest. A police spokesperson confirmed that because Wilson was on licence at the time of his disappearance, he would be returned to custody without delay. The authorities are now taking additional steps to revoke his prison licence, as confirmed by Colin Dearden, deputy chief probation officer for Lancashire. Dearden acknowledged the situation as a case of 'closing the stable door after the horse had bolted,' emphasizing that Wilson's release was unavoidable since he had served his sentence.

Wilson's history is marked by severe concerns about his risk to children. A judge previously described him as an 'ultra high risk to children,' 'psycho-pathically disordered,' and a 'systematic paedophile.' His release came after serving half of a four-and-a-half-year sentence, which was the maximum period he could serve before being eligible for parole. As part of his release conditions, Wilson was subjected to strict monitoring, including an 11 pm curfew and high-level police and probation oversight, aimed at safeguarding the public. On the Friday of his release, Wilson was escorted from prison to his Blackburn home by law enforcement officers and was under surveillance throughout the weekend. Despite these measures, he managed to go missing, prompting authorities to revoke his licence.

Wilson's criminal record is extensive. Over the past seven years, he has been jailed twice for breaching the terms of a sex offender order. He is explicitly prohibited from approaching anyone under 18 without written police consent. His past offenses include leaving a bail hostel in Accrington unsupervised in 1999, traveling to Preston, and approaching a young boy, actions that further exemplify his dangerous tendencies. MPs from the area have expressed grave concern over his release, with Hyndburn MP Greg Pope stating, 'This is obviously very worrying. They need to think carefully about how they handle serial sex offenders like this, but at the moment, they need to throw the book at him.' Pendle MP Gordon Prentice echoed these sentiments, insisting, 'It goes without saying he must be put back behind bars.'

Wilson's criminal history also includes a 2003 conviction for engaging in inappropriate conversations with the mother of a two-year-old girl in Lancaster. He was sentenced to four and a half years for this offense, which was compounded by another concurrent sentence for talking to a 15-year-old girl and her nine-year-old brother. The judge emphasized the seriousness of these breaches, highlighting Wilson's status as an 'ultra-high risk to children' and stressing the importance of protecting minors from him. Wilson's prior convictions include offenses against young children and even the rape of a cellmate while incarcerated. His lifestyle has been characterized as itinerant, often involving alcohol abuse, which has contributed to his unpredictable and threatening behavior.

Wilson's history of recidivism is alarming. In September 1999, he was recaptured after jumping bail in Halifax, West Yorkshire, where he was being transported to a Merseyside bail hostel. He had been scheduled for sentencing for burglary and disorderly conduct but failed to appear. His whereabouts remained unknown for several days, with unconfirmed sightings in Manchester, Liverpool, and the Wirral, until he was finally apprehended in Blackpool. Authorities had issued a five-year court order prohibiting him from contacting anyone under 18, and his image was circulated widely among police forces and educational institutions across the UK. The police believed that a member of the public recognized him, leading to his arrest. Due to his dangerous history, Merseyside Police explicitly named Wilson, citing concerns that he posed a 'danger to young males.'

Wilson's case underscores the ongoing challenges faced by law enforcement and social services in managing high-risk sex offenders. His repeated breaches and the community's vulnerability highlight the critical need for vigilant monitoring and stringent controls to prevent further harm. As Wilson remains in custody, the community and authorities alike await further developments, hoping that measures are in place to prevent his re-entry into society without adequate safeguards.