RANSOM CUBITT'S SHOCKING CRIMES IN MIDDLESBROUGH: SEX OFFENDER REPEATEDLY BREACHES COURT ORDERS
In March 2021, the case of Ransom Cubitt, a known sex offender from Middlesbrough, took a new turn as he appeared in court once again for violating court-imposed restrictions despite his long history of breaches and criminal convictions.Cubitt, aged 49, has a troubling past linked to sexual offenses involving minors, which has led to multiple court orders and restrictions aimed at protecting children from his predatory behavior.
His latest violations involve the creation and maintenance of social media accounts under false aliases, despite being under a lifetime ban from such activities.
The court was informed that police discovered Cubitt with several mobile applications on his devices, including encrypted messaging platforms like TikTok and WhatsApp.
These apps were accessed under usernames such as Black Lizard 555 and Ranse.
Notably, TikTok's features allow users to delete content shortly after posting, which is a clear violation of the conditions set by his sexual offences prevention order (SOPO).
Prosecutor Paul Rooney highlighted the severity of these breaches, emphasizing the creation of two social media aliases as particularly concerning.
He explained that the use of such false identities, especially on platforms that facilitate rapid content deletion, indicates an intentional effort to evade detection and court restrictions.
Historically, Cubitt's criminal record is marked by a series of serious offenses.
In 2006, while working as a school bus driver, he made a sexual advance towards a 12-year-old girl during a school run.
As a consequence, he was given a lifetime ban from working with children.
During that incident, he handed her a card signed with kisses, containing £5, and a note that read, “If you want the kisses in the card to be real, just let me know.” At the time, Cubitt claimed he initially had no sexual feelings for the girl, but he admitted that his feelings developed and he found her attractive.
He also told police that he had made the pass out of a misguided sense of affection, but the court saw his actions as a serious breach of trust and safety.
Since then, Cubitt has repeatedly breached the conditions of his SOPO and notification requirements.
In October of the previous year, police inspection of his digital devices revealed further violations, including the use of social media accounts with automatic deletion features, which are explicitly prohibited under his court orders.
In 2008, Cubitt was sentenced to 21 months in prison for three separate breaches of his SOPO.
The court heard that he had previously been convicted of inciting a child to engage in sexual activity, which resulted in a custodial sentence.
However, he was also given a three-year community rehabilitation order and ordered to participate in sex offender treatment programs.
Police efforts to locate him last November revealed that Cubitt had moved from his last known address, with his father claiming he had not been there for three months.
It was only ten days later that authorities traced him to a residence in Middlesbrough, where he was staying with a woman and her three children.
During police interviews, Cubitt admitted to forgetting to notify authorities of his change of address but accepted that he had been left alone with the children.
His defense lawyer, Brian Russell, acknowledged that the woman felt let down but was willing to allow Cubitt back into her home because he had a good relationship with her children.
Nonetheless, the court was clear that such trust was misplaced given his history.
Judge Paul Watson QC, the Recorder of Middlesbrough, sentenced Cubitt to ten months in custody, suspended for 18 months, and mandated that he complete 40 days of rehabilitation activities.
The judge emphasized the seriousness of the breaches, especially the use of social media with automatic deletion features, which he described as another deliberate violation of the court’s orders.
Looking further back, in January 2006, Cubitt, then aged 34, was involved in an incident where he made a sexual proposition to a 12-year-old girl on a school route in the Stockton area.
He used a birthday card to offer her kisses and £5, asking her to meet him after work.
The girl’s mother reported the incident to police, leading to Cubitt’s arrest.
He admitted to inciting a child under 13 to engage in sexual activity and stealing £20 from his employer during his four months working as a coach driver.
His defense described the offense as a “one-off blip,” and he expressed deep regret for his actions.
Judge George Moorhouse sentenced him to a three-year community rehabilitation order, including participation in a sex offenders’ program, and imposed a lifelong ban on working with children.
Additionally, he was placed under an indefinite sexual offences prevention order, restricting his contact with minors unless supervised by an adult aware of his conviction.
Following the latest proceedings, the mother of the girl involved in the 2006 incident voiced her frustration, stating, “The punishment wasn’t strong enough.
He should have gone to prison.
My daughter has been left in a real state.
It has really traumatised her badly and has also affected all the family.”
