PHILIP REECE OF BRIERFIELD SENTENCED FOR GROOMING ACCRINGTON STANLEY FANS
| Red Rose Database
Brierfield Child Sexual Abuser
In December 2012, Philip Reece, a 46-year-old Accrington Stanley fan and convicted paedophile, was sentenced to 19 months in prison after attempting to lure two 14-year-old boys back to his home following football matches.
Reece, who was under a 10-year sexual offences prevention order that prohibited him from associating with anyone under 18, was found to have repeatedly approached the two teenagers at the football matches. He engaged them in conversation and offered to take them to his house, promising parties and alcohol.
Police surveillance captured Reece on CCTV at the Accrington Stanley ground, where he was seen 'playfully rubbing' his head against one of the boys. Officers interviewed the teenagers, who stated that Reece had claimed he could obtain soccer badges for them. One of the boys reported that Reece had offered him 'booze disguised in cola bottles'.
Additionally, the teenager recounted that Reece, initially friendly, became aggressive and had frightened him by putting him in headlocks. Reece insisted he had never had a sexual interest in children.
During the hearing, Judge Beverley Lunt described Reece’s breaches of the sexual offences prevention order as 'repeated and persistent'. She emphasized that because of his refusal to acknowledge having a problem, the safest course of action was to imprison him to protect children.
Reece, from Chapel Street, Brierfield, was convicted of breaching the order between January and September 2011. While on bail, he was also banned from attending both home and away Accrington Stanley matches.
Prosecutor David Macro explained that on September 3 of the previous year, police observed Reece leaving the Barnet versus Accrington Stanley match in Barnet. They also established that he frequently attended Accrington Stanley home games. CCTV footage from the September 17 game against Crewe showed Reece on the terraces near under-16 fans, engaging in conversation and rubbing his own head against a child's.
Further police interviews revealed that the teenagers had seen Reece at football matches four or five times.
Judge Beverley Lunt criticized Reece for his failure to accept responsibility and for his 'perverted attitude towards children'. She concluded that because he refused to acknowledge his problematic behavior, the only way to ensure children’s safety was to imprison him. The court found no alternative but to send him to prison to prevent further harm.
Reece, who was under a 10-year sexual offences prevention order that prohibited him from associating with anyone under 18, was found to have repeatedly approached the two teenagers at the football matches. He engaged them in conversation and offered to take them to his house, promising parties and alcohol.
Police surveillance captured Reece on CCTV at the Accrington Stanley ground, where he was seen 'playfully rubbing' his head against one of the boys. Officers interviewed the teenagers, who stated that Reece had claimed he could obtain soccer badges for them. One of the boys reported that Reece had offered him 'booze disguised in cola bottles'.
Additionally, the teenager recounted that Reece, initially friendly, became aggressive and had frightened him by putting him in headlocks. Reece insisted he had never had a sexual interest in children.
During the hearing, Judge Beverley Lunt described Reece’s breaches of the sexual offences prevention order as 'repeated and persistent'. She emphasized that because of his refusal to acknowledge having a problem, the safest course of action was to imprison him to protect children.
Reece, from Chapel Street, Brierfield, was convicted of breaching the order between January and September 2011. While on bail, he was also banned from attending both home and away Accrington Stanley matches.
Prosecutor David Macro explained that on September 3 of the previous year, police observed Reece leaving the Barnet versus Accrington Stanley match in Barnet. They also established that he frequently attended Accrington Stanley home games. CCTV footage from the September 17 game against Crewe showed Reece on the terraces near under-16 fans, engaging in conversation and rubbing his own head against a child's.
Further police interviews revealed that the teenagers had seen Reece at football matches four or five times.
Judge Beverley Lunt criticized Reece for his failure to accept responsibility and for his 'perverted attitude towards children'. She concluded that because he refused to acknowledge his problematic behavior, the only way to ensure children’s safety was to imprison him. The court found no alternative but to send him to prison to prevent further harm.