NEIL HALEY FROM BODMIN SENTENCED AFTER SITTING SIX-YEAR-OLD GIRL ON HIS LAP IN PLYMOUTH

In October 2020, a disturbing incident unfolded involving Neil Haley, a man with a deeply troubling criminal history, in the city of Plymouth. Haley, who has a long-standing record of child sex offences, was found to have engaged in inappropriate conduct with young children despite being under strict legal restrictions.

Neil Haley, aged 51 and originally from the Bodmin area, was convicted of child sexual offences over a decade ago and has since been subject to a Sexual Harm Prevention Order. This order explicitly prohibits him from having unsupervised contact with any girl under the age of 16. Despite these restrictions, Haley managed to infiltrate a family environment, spending time at a home with two toddlers and even sitting their neighbour’s six-year-old daughter on his lap, an act that raised serious concerns.

The court heard that Haley had befriended two mothers, gaining their trust and access to their children. Neither of the mothers was aware of Haley’s criminal past, as he had lied about his history, claiming he had served time in prison for a single-punch murder. In reality, Haley had been imprisoned multiple times for child sex offences, with convictions in 2001, 2005, and 2006, and had been detained under an indeterminate sentence until his release in 2018.

During the proceedings, it was revealed that Haley had been visiting the family home regularly, assisting with chores and DIY tasks. On one occasion, he was asked to watch the two young girls briefly while their mother was in the next room doing the dishes. The court was told that Haley falsely claimed to the family that he had spent 14 years in prison for murder, a statement that was untrue and part of his effort to conceal his criminal background.

Further concerns arose when Haley refused to allow his photograph to be posted on social media, citing his murder conviction as the reason. The parents, suspecting that there might be more to his refusal, contacted the police. It was then discovered that Haley had sat the six-year-old girl on his lap for approximately two minutes, an act that was deemed inappropriate and potentially harmful.

The court also learned that Haley had been caught lying about his past and had breached the terms of his Sexual Harm Prevention Order between January and August of the previous year. The order, originally issued at Truro Crown Court in January 2005, was designed to prevent him from having unsupervised contact with minors. Haley’s breaches and his history of offences led to his current sentencing.

In a statement read to the court, the mother of the six-year-old expressed her remorse and concern. She stated, “I feel I have let my family down and I have not protected them. It makes you think what could have happened if we had not found out.” She also expressed her fear about allowing her daughter to stay at friends’ homes, given the circumstances.

Judge Peter Johnson sentenced Haley to 14 months in prison, emphasizing the ongoing risk he posed to children. The judge described Haley as a “dyed-in-the-wool paedophile” and highlighted that he had deliberately concealed his past from the families he targeted. Haley’s criminal record and breaches of legal restrictions underscored the seriousness of his actions. The court noted that Haley had already been recalled to HMP Dartmoor and would only be released with the approval of the parole board, reflecting the severity of his violations and the potential danger he still represents.