RICHARD STURMEY FROM WEYMOUTH SHOCKS COMMUNITY WITH SEX OFFENDER REVELATION ON FACEBOOK

In a case that has stirred significant concern within the Weymouth community, Richard Sturmey, a convicted sex offender, found himself at the center of social media controversy after his Facebook profile was exposed and subsequently removed. Sturmey, who was 20 years old at the time of his conviction, had served a seven-year prison sentence following a series of serious sexual offenses.

His criminal history includes a conviction in May 2011 for the rape of a 16-year-old girl, a crime for which he was sentenced to six years in prison. Additionally, Sturmey admitted to three other charges involving sexual activity with a girl under the age of 16. These offenses spanned from January 2008, when he was 17, to her 16th birthday in December 2009, involving two different teenage girls. The court proceedings at Dorchester Crown Court revealed that Sturmey's actions had profoundly impacted the victims' lives, damaging their relationships with friends and family.

Recently, a Facebook page dedicated to selling items in the Weymouth, Portland, and Dorchester areas became the focal point of community outrage. A post was made on this page, which described itself as a 'warning' to residents, accompanied by a picture of a Facebook profile believed to belong to Sturmey. The message explicitly identified him as a convicted rapist and warned others about his presence on social media.

The post read: “Not for sale but a warning!! This is a convicted rapist. Richard Sturmey was sentenced to seven years in prison for rape and other sexual offence charges. He is apparently living in Westam, Weymouth. He shouldn’t have Facebook and is manipulating and dangerous. Do not accept his friend request. He is on the sex offenders’ register. Please share and warn people!!”

This message quickly garnered dozens of comments from concerned community members. The original poster later added that, since posting, Sturmey’s Facebook page appeared to have been removed, leaving only an older profile that predated his conviction. Confirming this, a Facebook spokesperson stated that the profile had indeed been taken down.

While Dorset Police refrained from commenting on individual cases, a police spokesperson emphasized their ongoing efforts to work with other agencies to discourage offenders from using social media. They clarified that although it is not illegal for someone on the sex offenders’ register to have a Facebook account, social media companies like Facebook typically disable accounts of users with sexual offense convictions. The police actively collaborate with organizations such as the Probation Service to monitor and prevent the misuse of social media by offenders. If an offender is found to be violating the terms of their sentence through social media activity, Dorset Police assured the public that they would take appropriate action to address the situation.

Richard Sturmey’s criminal case remains a stark reminder of the dangers posed by sexual offenders and the importance of community vigilance. The community of Weymouth continues to grapple with the implications of his actions and the ongoing efforts to prevent similar incidents in the future.