RICHARD DUFF, EDINBURGH SEX OFFENDER, BACK BEHIND BARS AFTER THIRD BREACH OF PARK BAN
In a troubling development, Richard Duff, a notorious sex offender from Edinburgh, has been remanded back into custody after violating a court-imposed order for the third time.Duff, aged 33, was previously recognized as one of the first individuals in the Lothians to be subjected to a Sexual Offences Prevention Order (SOPO), a legal measure designed to restrict his movements and interactions to protect the community, especially children.
His latest breach occurred when police officers, patrolling the area, observed Duff climbing the steps leading to Calton Hill.
Officers noted that he appeared unusually nervous, which prompted them to approach him for questioning.
During the encounter, Duff admitted to the officers that he was seeking sexual encounters because he was bored at home, a statement that further alarmed authorities given his known history.
Duff’s criminal record is extensive and includes a series of convictions related to offenses against young boys.
His history with the courts began in September 1998 when he was sentenced to 15 months in prison for indecently assaulting three boys aged between seven and ten at a residence in Wester Hailes.
His criminal activities continued to escalate, leading to his re-arrest in June 1990 after he was caught impersonating a football coach, which resulted in an early release from prison.
Despite being released in September 1999, Duff was seen again six months later playing football with young children, an incident that led to police intervention after the boys reported him.
In 2004, Duff was the first individual in the Lothians to be subjected to a SOPO, which included a ban on contact with males under 16 and restrictions on entering parks and areas frequented by children.
Less than three weeks after the order was issued, he was caught in Pilrig Park, breaching the order, and was subsequently sentenced to a year in prison.
After his release, he violated the ban once more by traveling to Glasgow for what he claimed was a shopping trip, unaware that police were following him.
This led to an additional eight months behind bars.
His latest violation occurred last month when he was spotted on Calton Hill, a location explicitly designated as off-limits under his SOPO.
During the hearing at Edinburgh Sheriff Court, Sheriff Kenneth MacIver described Duff’s behavior as indicative of an “addiction” and sentenced him to 16 months in prison.
Duff’s solicitor, Stephen Knowles, argued that Duff was seeking a partner and claimed he might have met someone appropriate that night, but emphasized the risk posed by other individuals who might not be suitable.
Throughout his criminal history, Duff has demonstrated a pattern of offending and breaching legal restrictions, prompting ongoing concern from law enforcement and the judiciary about his potential threat to the community, especially vulnerable children in Edinburgh and beyond.
