ROBIN FRAMPTON'S SHOCKING CASE IN SOUTHAMPTON LEADS TO £20,000 TAXPAYER COSTS

In a case that has drawn significant attention and financial repercussions, Robin Frampton, a convicted sex offender from Southampton, was awarded damages after being wrongfully arrested and detained, a situation that ultimately cost taxpayers over £20,000.

Frampton, who had previously been placed on the sex offenders' register for life following an indecent assault on a prostitute, found himself at the center of a legal dispute when he was arrested for allegedly breaching the conditions of his license. The incident occurred in July 2006 in North Yorkshire, specifically in the town of Selby, where he was detained by local police.

His arrest came after he provided police with a false name and address during a routine check. Frampton had left his home in Southampton, claiming he was heading to a barbecue at a male friend's house, but instead traveled to Selby to stay with a woman he had met through a telephone dating service. During his visit, he visited a police station in Selby to inform officers, out of what he described as 'courtesy,' that he was in the area. At the station, he presented a document bearing his alias, Robert Williams, and an old address, asserting that his placement on the sex offenders' register had expired.

However, police believed that Frampton had failed to provide his current address within the three-day window required for sex offenders who change residences. They also suspected he was a 'high-risk' sex offender who could pose a danger to the public. As a result, detectives traced him to his girlfriend's residence and arrested him for giving false details and failing to register a change of address.

Following his arrest, Frampton was held on remand for a total of 110 days. During this period, he faced charges related to providing false information and breaching his registration requirements. However, at a subsequent court hearing earlier this year, the case was dismissed when the Crown Prosecution Service announced that they would offer no evidence against him. The case was ultimately dropped at Leeds County Court, where a judge awarded Frampton £3,075 in damages, ruling that his arrest and imprisonment had been wrongful.

In addition to the damages, the court ordered North Yorkshire Police to pay Frampton's legal costs, which amounted to approximately £10,500. The police force's legal expenses are believed to be around £10,000, adding to the financial burden of the case.

Frampton's criminal history is extensive. His previous convictions include a 1980 conviction for grabbing two young girls, aged nine and ten, threatening them with a knife, and attempting to rape one of them. He was also jailed in 1989 for raping an elderly woman in her own home. In July 2006, he was apprehended in Selby after giving false details, and he had previously been sentenced in July 1999 to 12 months for indecent assault, with a subsequent increase to three years on appeal, which automatically placed him on the sex offenders' register indefinitely.

This case highlights the ongoing challenges and legal complexities surrounding sex offender management, as well as the significant financial implications for public resources when wrongful arrests occur.