PAUL FARAM FROM TUNSTALL JAILED FOR BREACHING SEXUAL OFFENCES ORDER IN STOKE-ON-TRENT

In October 2013, Paul Faram, a man residing in Tunstall, was sentenced to prison after he was found to have violated a court-imposed order designed to protect children from potential harm. The order, known as a Sexual Offences Prevention Order (SOPO), had been issued in 2008 following Faram's conviction on serious charges involving minors. Specifically, he was convicted of two counts of engaging in sexual activity with a child under the age of 13, as well as participating in sexual acts in the presence of a child under 13. These convictions led to the court imposing a stringent 10-year SOPO, which explicitly prohibited Faram from having any contact with children under 16 without prior written consent. Additionally, the order forbade him from living in the same part of a residence as children under 16, aiming to prevent any opportunity for contact or influence.

Despite these restrictions, Faram was found to have deliberately breached the terms of his order during the Christmas period. The Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court heard that on Christmas Day, Faram visited a residence where two children were present. He stayed overnight at this address, an act that directly contravened the conditions of his SOPO. The court was informed that Faram and his partner had gone to the home of a woman with whom he was having an affair. During the visit, Faram was seen interacting with the children, attempting to help them play with toys, which was considered a breach of the restrictions designed to keep him away from minors.

According to prosecutor Neil Ahuja, Faram’s partner was feeling unwell during the visit, prompting Faram to take her home before returning to the woman’s house later that evening. He did not, however, return to his own residence until the following morning, claiming to his partner that he had spent the night on the woman’s sofa. The authorities became aware of the breach when they visited Faram’s new address on January 11, after he had separated from his partner. The mother of the children was present during this visit. Subsequently, Faram was arrested on January 21 at his Tunstall home. He initially denied breaching the SOPO but later admitted to the violation.

During the court proceedings, defense solicitor Anis Ali argued that Faram’s actions were not motivated by malicious intent and that he had made efforts to change his life. Ali emphasized that the breach was an isolated incident and not indicative of ongoing risk. He explained that Faram’s visit to the woman’s house on Christmas Day was with the purpose of seeing her, and at no point was he left unsupervised with the children. Ali also highlighted that Faram now has a new partner, with whom there is no risk or concern regarding children, asserting that there is no danger to the public or the court’s safety.

Judge David Fletcher sentenced Faram to 10 months in prison, underscoring the seriousness of his breach. The judge stated, “You knew exactly what the order meant. It was a 10-year order and on Christmas Day you breached it.” The case serves as a stark reminder of the importance of adhering to court orders designed to protect vulnerable minors from individuals with a history of sexual offenses.