RAYMOND ATTWOOD CAUGHT IN MIDDLESBROUGH: SEX OFFENDER REPEATS OFFENSES AFTER 2013 GROOMING CASE
In June 2023, Raymond Attwood, a convicted sex offender from Middlesbrough, found himself back in court facing serious allegations of breaching the strict conditions of his previous court orders.The case highlights ongoing concerns about online safety and the challenges of monitoring offenders who continue to flout restrictions.
Attwood, aged 40, had previously served a two-year prison sentence after being convicted in 2013 for sending explicit messages to a 12-year-old girl.
The incident was uncovered when the girl’s mother took the extraordinary step of impersonating her daughter online, which led to Attwood’s identification and subsequent arrest.
During that initial case, it was revealed that Attwood had a disturbing fascination with children, including a perverted interest in school uniforms, and was found with child abuse images.
The court described him as a socially isolated individual with no real friends or social life, living alone in Saltburn at the time.
Fast forward to May 25, 2023, police officers conducted a surprise visit to Attwood’s residence on Wicklow Street in central Middlesbrough.
The officers were checking to ensure he was complying with the terms of his sexual harm prevention order, which had been imposed in 2013.
This order mandated strict rules regarding his internet use, requiring him to declare any new devices and bank cards, and to adhere to monitored online activity.
During the visit, Attwood immediately handed over a mobile phone that he had hidden down the side of his settee, raising suspicions.
Further investigation revealed that Attwood had failed to declare this device, which had been in use for approximately a year.
Police checks on the phone uncovered that he had downloaded Snapchat, a messaging app known for its automatic message deletion feature, which he used to evade detection.
Additionally, his online username, “Ray38,” was found to contain nine female names in his contacts, raising further concerns about his ongoing inappropriate online behavior.
Prosecutor Nigel Soppitt informed the court that Attwood’s failure to declare the mobile phone and his continued online activity constituted clear breaches of his court-mandated restrictions.
This was not his first violation; he had previously broken the order in 2013 and again in 2022.
The breaches prompted the court to take decisive action.
Attwood, who is now residing on Wicklow Street in Middlesbrough after previously living in Saltburn, pleaded guilty to the two breaches of his sexual harm prevention order and to failing to comply with sex offender notification requirements.
Judge Paul Watson KC reviewed a report from the probation service, which indicated that Attwood still posed a significant risk to young girls.
As a result, the judge sentenced him to 16 months in prison.
Attwood is expected to be eligible for release after serving half of his sentence, which is standard for such cases.
Reflecting on the case, Judge Watson emphasized the importance of strict enforcement of court orders to protect vulnerable individuals.
The judge’s comments underscored the ongoing danger posed by offenders like Attwood, despite previous convictions and restrictions.
The case serves as a stark reminder of the persistent threat posed by individuals with a history of sexual offenses and the importance of vigilant monitoring and enforcement of legal restrictions to prevent further harm.
