PAUL MCCAFFREY BOOTLE SEX OFFENDER AVOIDS JAIL DESPITE MULTIPLE OFFENSES

In a case that has shocked the community of Bootle, Paul McCaffrey, a 41-year-old man with a troubling criminal history, narrowly escaped a prison sentence despite his involvement in serious sexual misconduct and related offenses. The incidents, which span over a period of time, highlight the ongoing concerns about public safety and the effectiveness of the justice system in dealing with repeat offenders.

In February 2011, McCaffrey appeared before Judge Nigel Gilmour QC, who described him as a manipulative and predatory individual at the time of the September 2008 incident. The court was told that McCaffrey, who had previously served time for molesting a 12-year-old girl, attempted to bribe a 14-year-old girl into performing a sexual act on him. The method of coercion involved offering her cannabis, which he also supplied. The court heard that McCaffrey took the teenager to Southport beach, where he handed her the drug and then tried to persuade her to engage in sexual activity. The girl refused his advances, but McCaffrey persisted by attempting to kiss and cuddle her.

Prosecutor Teresa Loftus detailed the incident, emphasizing the manipulative tactics used by McCaffrey. The court was informed that McCaffrey admitted to inciting a child to sexual activity and supplying cannabis. Despite the gravity of his actions, Judge Gilmour decided against sending McCaffrey to prison. Instead, he sentenced him to a period of supervision lasting three years, imposed a three-month curfew at his residence on Rosalind Way in Bootle, and recommended that McCaffrey participate in a sex offender rehabilitation program. The judge’s decision was based on the belief that McCaffrey would benefit more from treatment than incarceration.

Earlier, in March 2010, McCaffrey’s troubling history was further highlighted when he was convicted of a separate sexual assault involving a 12-year-old girl. During that case, he was sentenced to 15 months in prison by Judge Gerald Clifton at Liverpool Crown Court. The judge expressed serious concern about McCaffrey’s pattern of increasingly serious offenses and warned that he could pose a significant danger to women in the community.

The court proceedings revealed that McCaffrey, a resident of Kipling Street in Bootle, had visited a friend on August 3, 2008. When he discovered that his friend was not at home, he took the initiative to enter the residence without permission. Inside, he took the 12-year-old daughter of his friend to her bedroom, where he lay down on the bed and held her hand. Prosecutor Claire Jones stated that McCaffrey’s actions clearly indicated an intent to engage in sexual activity. However, he stopped short of completing the act, possibly because he believed the girl might resist or because he feared her father returning home at any moment.

McCaffrey denied the sexual assault, but the court found sufficient evidence to convict him. It was also noted that prior to his arrest, McCaffrey had been involved in driving children to school, raising further concerns about his behavior and potential threat to the community. His defense attorney, Desmond Lennon, acknowledged that McCaffrey now accepted his guilt. As part of his sentence, McCaffrey will be required to register as a sex offender for the next ten years, reflecting the seriousness of his crimes and the ongoing risk he poses.

These incidents underscore the challenges faced by authorities in managing repeat offenders like Paul McCaffrey, whose criminal conduct has spanned several years and involved vulnerable victims in Bootle. The community remains watchful, hoping that the measures taken will prevent further harm and ensure public safety.