PAUL NEARY FROM LIVERPOOL FIGHTS TO KEEP ICE CREAM JOB AT MERSEY BEACH DESPITE SEX OFFENDER STATUS
In September 2020, a disturbing case unfolded involving Paul Neary, a convicted sex offender from Liverpool, who is currently fighting to retain his employment as an ice cream van operator at Crosby Beach.Neary, who has been operating from Burbo Bank car park for the past 18 months, has attracted significant attention due to his inappropriate behavior and disturbing collection of images and items.
Neary's activities have included taking photographs of Barbie dolls posed in sexual acts with him in his own home, publicly wearing soiled girls' underwear in toilets opposite his van, and laying out children's underwear on the sand dunes near the iconic Gormley statues.
Despite the unsettling nature of these actions, authorities have clarified that none of these behaviors are illegal in themselves, and as a result, Sefton Council and the Disclosure and Barring Service lack the authority to intervene, since ice cream vendors are not subject to regulation by either body.
However, the police have stepped in to seek a court order to modify the terms of Neary’s existing Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO).
The Merseyside Police are requesting that the court impose restrictions to prevent him from working as an ice cream vendor, possessing female child toy dolls, engaging in any employment or activities involving girls under 16, and having unsupervised contact with minors.
Neary, who is 47 years old and resides on Glendale Close, Dingle, is contesting this application, asserting his right to continue his work selling ice cream.
During the court hearing at Liverpool Crown Court, it was revealed that Neary was convicted in August 2016 of possessing indecent images of children.
He was sentenced to a suspended jail term and was ordered to sign the Sex Offenders Register and adhere to a SHPO for ten years.
The police are now seeking to amend the order to include specific prohibitions aimed at safeguarding the public from potential harm.
Lee Bonner, representing the police, called PC Mary Fielding, who is responsible for monitoring sex offenders, to give evidence.
It was disclosed that officers knew Neary worked as a DJ at a pub in West Derby and had other jobs, including distributing phone directories.
However, they were unaware of his involvement in selling ice cream until a chance visit to his former home on Burbo Bank Road South, overlooking Crosby Beach, on July 5 of the previous year.
During this visit, a neighbor approached PC Fielding to ask if Neary could move his van, which was obstructing the road.
Neary admitted ownership of the van and explained that he had taken over his uncle’s ice cream route in February 2019.
He also stated that his employer was unaware of his criminal conviction.
The police officer noted that Neary’s flat was “exceptionally cluttered,” filled with bags of clothing, and when questioned about this, Neary giggled nervously, claiming the items were from car boot sales and that he enjoyed cross-dressing.
Further inspection uncovered women’s clothing, children’s clothes, and toys, including Barbie dolls, which Neary claimed were mixed in with his clothes purchased from sales.
Neary possessed a laptop used for his DJ work and a mobile phone that initially did not have internet access.
However, police found a new Alcatel device with internet capability, which was seized for examination.
Analysis of the phone revealed disturbing content, including approximately 30-40 photos of soiled girls’ underwear laid out on sand dunes, over 100 images of naked Barbie dolls in sexual poses—some touching Neary’s genitals or mimicking sex acts—and around 30 photos and videos of Neary wearing soiled girls’ underwear in public toilets, sometimes with his penis exposed.
PC Fielding revisited Neary’s home twice more, on October 11 and April 28.
During these visits, Neary initially failed to answer the door, claiming he was dressed in women’s clothes to avoid being seen, then later stated he was still selling ice cream.
The officer’s report indicated that the clothing and images found suggested Neary had sexual fantasies involving soiled female underwear, and his use of Barbie dolls and cross-dressing pointed to “sexual preoccupation and possible offence-related sexual interests.” Believing that further restrictions were necessary to protect the public, PC Fielding recommended additional prohibitions.
Neary later moved to Copy Lane, Bootle, where police visited him again on April 28 to discuss the content on his phone and the proposed restrictions, including a ban on selling ice cream.
Neary expressed shock at the restrictions, insisting he enjoyed his job.
On June 26, Neary attended a police station for a risk assessment, during which PC Fielding expressed concern that he was at risk of re-offending or being tempted, a view Neary did not share.
Neary, describing himself as a “loner” and “hoarder,” revealed that he had been dressing in female clothes since childhood, a habit rooted in childhood abuse by his father, who made him wear his sister’s underwear to school.
He admitted to viewing child sex abuse images out of curiosity, which escalated into obsession, though he refused to confirm whether he was aroused by children or to discuss the images of dolls.
Neary claimed he was “haunted by a demon” because of his offending and believed his flat was haunted, which led him to move, but he insisted that “the demon followed him.” Under cross-examination, the police officer acknowledged that there was no evidence Neary committed any offenses while working as an ice cream van driver.
Nonetheless, PC Fielding stated her opinion that working as an ice cream vendor was inappropriate for someone with his criminal background.
The court proceedings are ongoing, with a judge expected to deliver a ruling later this week.
