GRANTHAM PAEDOPHILE RICHARD BULLIMORE SPARKS PROTESTS AND COMMUNITY TENSION

In June 2013, the town of Grantham found itself at the center of a heated community dispute following the return of Richard Wayne Bullimore to the area. The situation escalated when residents, outraged by his presence, organized a protest on Uplands Drive, demanding that he leave the town immediately.

Police officers responded swiftly to the gathering, which took place on a Sunday afternoon, deploying a significant number of officers to contain the protest and prevent it from spilling over into other parts of the neighborhood. The demonstrators assembled on the green space in Uplands Drive, holding banners and blowing whistles to voice their anger and frustration. Their signs bore messages such as “Justice for victims,” “Stop the torment of victims,” and “Get the paedophile out!” alongside slogans like “Victims should not be victims again.”

Richard Bullimore, who returned to Grantham at the end of April, was the focus of the residents’ outrage. The protest was organized in response to his reappearance in the community, which many residents found unacceptable given his criminal history. Bullimore now resides in a house on Uplands Drive with his wife, but the location of his residence did little to quell the community’s unrest.

Ch Insp Mark Housley of Lincolnshire Police acknowledged the tension in the area, stating, “We are aware of significant community tension in the area and we are working with all parties to ensure public safety and bring about a swift return to normality.” The police presence was intended to keep the protest peaceful and confined to the designated area, away from Bullimore’s home.

Richard Bullimore’s criminal past is well-documented. In February 2002, he was convicted at the age of 53 on four counts of rape and five counts of indecent assault. The charges related to incidents that occurred between January 1986 and March 27, 2001. Bullimore denied all allegations, but the court found him guilty, sentencing him to 15 years in prison. He was released early last year, which has fueled the community’s outrage and fears.

The prosecution revealed that four girls, all under the age of 12, had made complaints against Bullimore. The community’s concern is compounded by his return, with many residents feeling that justice has not been fully served and that their safety is at risk.

In response to the protests, Annette Pask, a local resident, launched an online petition calling for Bullimore’s removal from Grantham. The petition quickly garnered nearly 400 signatures within just a few days. Pask has also appealed to Grantham’s Member of Parliament, Nick Boles, urging him to support efforts to remove Bullimore from the neighborhood. She expressed her frustration, saying, “Innocent people affected by crime should have the right to live in peace. This man cannot be in the slightest remorseful for his actions if he is happy to return and mentally torture these people again. We need to stand up and fight for the rights of the innocent.”

MP Nick Boles responded to the petition, stating, “I have written to The Rt Hon Chris Grayling, Secretary of State for Justice, Ministry of Justice, to raise concerns that paedophiles are permitted to return straight back into the communities in which they carried out their crimes after their release from prison. I will update change.org as soon as I receive a reply.”

For more information, Annette Pask’s petition can be found at www.change.org/en-GB/petitions/nick-boles-mp-remove-an-unwanted-sex-offender-from-our-neighbourhood.