RICHARD LAWSON'S SHOCKING REVELATION: PAEDOPHILE LIVING NEAR CHILDREN IN HULL
In March 2017, a distressing situation unfolded in Hull when a mother of two discovered that a convicted sex offender was residing just streets away from her home.Emma, a 34-year-old resident of North Hull, was left utterly shocked and alarmed upon learning that Richard Lawson, a 67-year-old man with a disturbing criminal history, was living in close proximity to her family.
Richard Lawson had a dark past that spanned several decades.
During the 1980s, he was convicted of indecently assaulting both a child and a teenager.
Later, in the 1990s, he was also found guilty of assaulting a woman.
His criminal activities and subsequent convictions cast a long shadow over his reputation and raised serious concerns about community safety.
In April of the previous year, Lawson appeared before Hull Crown Court, where he pleaded guilty to the charges against him.
The court sentenced him to 15 months in prison for his offenses.
However, Lawson was released from custody in November of the same year, having been placed on licence, which meant he was subject to strict conditions and supervision.
As part of his sentence, he was also registered on the Sex Offender Register for a period of ten years, a measure intended to monitor his activities and prevent further harm.
What compounded Emma’s distress was the fact that she was not informed by the police about Lawson’s release.
This lack of communication left her feeling vulnerable and unprepared, especially as her children—an 11-year-old girl and a four-year-old boy—were living so close to him.
Emma expressed her discomfort and fear, stating, “It makes me feel uneasy it really does and I don’t feel comfortable in my own home.” She also voiced her frustration over the apparent lack of transparency, remarking, “There should be more laws and I thought there was a law where we were supposed to know about sex offenders in the area.” During Lawson’s sentencing, the judge condemned his “despicable behaviour” and emphasized the importance of transparency in such cases to protect vulnerable children.
It was also revealed during the trial that one of Lawson’s victims claimed he had said, “paedophiles should be hanged,” reflecting the severity of his crimes and the community’s concern.
In mitigation, Lawson’s legal representatives requested a suspended sentence, arguing that he needed to continue caring for his frail wife.
Despite this, the community and Emma felt that Lawson’s presence posed a significant risk, especially given his history and the fact that he occasionally looked after Emma’s children prior to his conviction.
Emma has since sought assistance from Places for People, the housing association managing her property.
The organization has assured her of their support in finding alternative accommodation.
A spokesperson for the housing association stated, “We would be happy to advise Emma in how to apply for alternative accommodation.
If she feels at risk and believes she needs to move urgently then she should contact the local authority for emergency re-housing.
All our available properties are listed on our website and customers can apply to move, providing they meet the relevant criteria.” Nevertheless, Emma feels that she is being forced out of her home due to Lawson’s criminal past.
She believes it should be Lawson who moves, especially considering his proximity to young children and the ongoing disturbances, such as smashed windows.
She expressed her frustration, saying, “I want to see him move.
Why should I have to move?
It would be better for him to go into a quieter area in sheltered accommodation, especially when he is living directly near to young children.
His windows are always getting smashed and I’ve got two very frightened children.
Why should I be the one to move?
There is no priority for me and I don’t agree with any of it really.” Under the Child Sex Offender Disclosure Scheme, commonly known as ‘Sarah’s Law,’ concerned residents have the right to request information from police about individuals with access to children who have a record of child sexual offences.
This scheme allows authorities to confidentially disclose relevant details to those most capable of protecting children, such as parents, guardians, or carers, if they believe it is in the child’s best interest.
This measure aims to enhance community safety and ensure that families are informed about potential risks in their neighborhoods.
