PETER DILLON RUNCORN SEX OFFENDER CAUGHT PICKING UP STEP-DAUGHTER FROM SCHOOL

In a concerning incident that unfolded in Runcorn, a woman’s discovery about her partner’s criminal past has brought to light serious issues of trust and public safety. The incident occurred in November when a vigilant grandmother noticed Peter Dillon, aged 29, of Grangeway, engaging in an activity that raised immediate alarm. Dillon was seen collecting his partner’s young daughter from her primary school, an act that prompted the grandmother to alert school staff about her suspicions.

Subsequent investigations confirmed that Dillon was a registered sex offender. CCTV footage verified the grandmother’s account, capturing Dillon’s presence at the school during the time of pickup. This revelation was particularly shocking given Dillon’s criminal history, which dates back to 2010. At that time, he was sentenced to 20 months in prison and received a five-year ban from having unsupervised contact with children following a conviction for inciting a teenage girl under 16 to engage in sexual activity.

Further details emerged during court proceedings, revealing that Dillon had been in a relationship with a woman for approximately three and a half years. The woman, who had a young child with Dillon, was unaware of his past offenses until the recent incident. The relationship began in 2011 when their daughter was only four years old. The woman, whose knowledge of Dillon’s criminal history was limited until now, promptly reported him to the police after the incident.

Jo Maxwell, prosecuting, explained to the court that if the woman had been aware of Dillon’s previous convictions, she would have reported him earlier and ended their relationship sooner. The police investigation uncovered that Dillon had also violated the terms of his Sex Offences Prevention Order (SOPO) by moving house with his partner without informing authorities, further breaching the restrictions placed upon him.

Defense lawyer David Rose stated that Dillon had not committed any offenses since 2010 and was making efforts to lead a normal life. He highlighted that the probation service had recommended against a custodial sentence and noted Dillon’s willingness to cooperate with authorities as a positive sign.

Presiding over the case, Recorder of Chester Elgan Edwards imposed a new five-year SOPO on Dillon, along with a three-year community order that requires him to complete the Northumbria Sex Offenders Programme. Addressing Dillon’s breach of the SOPO, Judge Edwards clarified that there was no suggestion of any recent sexual misconduct. Instead, the issue was Dillon’s past behavior and the fact that he had been punished for it.

In his remarks, Judge Edwards warned Dillon about the dangers of repeating past mistakes, emphasizing the importance of compliance with court orders. He cautioned that failure to adhere could lead to a cycle of imprisonment, which Dillon must now work to break with the support of his family and the court’s supervision. The judge urged Dillon not to squander this second chance, underscoring that such opportunities are rare and must be taken seriously.