RICHARD SEARS AND NICHOLAS LALOO: THE DANGEROUS SEX OFFENDERS FROM NEWBURY AND THEALE

In November 2020, a court in West Berkshire addressed the ongoing threat posed by Richard Sears, formerly known as Nicholas Glen Laloo, a man with a deeply troubling criminal history spanning over two decades. The court emphasized that Sears remains a significant danger to women, particularly teenage girls, despite his efforts to move on from his past.

Judge Polly Gledhill, presiding over the case, highlighted the severity of Sears' risk to the public. She pointed out that Sears, now 51 years old and residing in The Crescent, Theale, had previously lived in Newbury. The court was told that Sears had been convicted of a double rape in 1996, for which he served a 12-year prison sentence. His criminal record is extensive, with over 40 convictions including indecent assault, harassment, and fraud.

The police, represented by Jennifer Wright on behalf of Thames Valley Police, requested the imposition of a Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO) to mitigate the risk Sears posed. Wright described a pattern of sexually motivated behavior, harassment, and stalking, which justified the need for an indefinite SHPO. However, the court ultimately decided on a 10-year order, citing the need for proportionality, though it was not made indefinite as the police had requested.

Judge Gledhill noted that Sears had breached previous court orders involving children and referenced reports indicating he was at a “very high risk of committing sexual offences towards teenage girls.” She acknowledged the years of predatory conduct and the warnings from a Reading Crown Court judge, who had previously described Sears as a “very serious risk to the public.”

While Sears opposed the order, claiming he wanted to rebuild his life and find employment, the court was unconvinced. The judge emphasized the importance of public protection, especially given Sears’ history of offending against young females. The order prohibits Sears from contacting children and restricts his interactions with minors in various contexts.

Despite his efforts to rehabilitate, Sears has faced hostility from the community. He has reported being subjected to relentless attacks, including having paint stripper thrown over his car, a leaflet campaign branding him a paedophile, and his home windows being smashed. After the hearing, Sears stated, “I’ve done my time. I’m just trying to get work and to get on with my life. Now I’m going to have to change my name again.”

In a related case from October 2018, Nicholas Laloo, also known as Nick, appeared in court after repeatedly breaching a Sexual Offences Prevention Order (SOPO). Laloo, who has over 46 previous convictions, was convicted of rapes and other sexual offences, and is considered highly dangerous. The court heard that Laloo had been caught twice by police with young girls in his car, despite the restrictions placed on him.

Prosecutor Siobhan Molloy detailed Laloo’s history, including his previous rape convictions and his harassment of a 15-year-old girl, whom he met after school and offered lifts, telling her to keep their interactions secret. Laloo was also caught following three girls on separate occasions, attempting to incite them to get into his vehicle, which caused them to fear violence.

Following these breaches, Laloo was subjected to a new, stringent 10-year SHPO, which prohibits him from contacting or being in the company of females under 18 without explicit consent from guardians and authorities. Laloo was also ordered to pay a victim surcharge. Despite his claims of trying to rebuild his life, Laloo’s past actions and repeated breaches demonstrate the ongoing danger he poses.

In August 2018, Laloo was again in the spotlight after being caught with young girls in his car, despite his previous convictions and restrictions. His employment history includes working for Yodel at their Farnborough depot for six months in 2016, despite having concealed his criminal past from his employers. Laloo’s criminal record includes a 12-year sentence for rapes, and he has been involved in multiple incidents of harassment and assault.

Earlier, in January 2012, Laloo was sentenced to six months for fraud after hiding his past convictions while working at Tesco’s distribution center in Didcot. His criminal history also includes a 12-year jail sentence from 1996 for sexually attacking two women within 24 hours, during which he made threatening remarks and subjected his victims to horrific assaults.

Despite his lengthy criminal record, Laloo has repeatedly attempted to re-enter society, often under different aliases or with concealed histories, but his dangerous behavior continues to pose a serious threat to the community in Newbury, Theale, and beyond.