SCOTT CRADDOCK, THE DANGEROUS NORTHAMPTON PAEDOPHILE, REOFFENDS JUST SIX WEEKS AFTER RELEASE

In a disturbing development, Scott Craddock, a man with a long history of sexual offenses and a reputation for being highly manipulative and dangerous, has once again found himself behind bars after a brief period of freedom. Craddock, who was previously convicted of multiple serious sexual crimes, was caught hiding an illegal laptop in his room at a Bridgewood Probation Hostel in Northampton, just weeks after his release from prison.

Craddock’s release came on November 5, 2019, after serving half of a four-and-a-half-year sentence handed down by Northampton Crown Court. His original convictions included heinous acts such as the rape of an eight-year-old girl and the indecent assault of a five-year-old boy. Despite these grave offenses, he was released into the community under strict conditions, including a Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO) imposed by the court in 2017, which explicitly prohibited him from possessing certain items, including a laptop.

However, less than a month after his release, on December 21, staff at the hostel responded to a report of a flood in Craddock’s room. During their inspection, they discovered a Toshiba laptop concealed within his bedsheets. The laptop was found to contain a webcam and was clearly hidden from view, indicating an attempt to conceal it. This device was not permitted under the terms of his SHPO, which was designed to prevent him from accessing or possessing material that could facilitate further offenses.

Further investigation revealed that the laptop contained 32 indecent images of children, all downloaded between December 12 and December 21. Authorities also uncovered search terms related to paedophile websites, raising serious concerns about his intentions and activities. Additional forensic analysis showed that the laptop had been wiped clean and restored to factory settings, suggesting an attempt to erase evidence of prior activity.

Craddock faced multiple charges, including three breaches of his Sexual Harm Prevention Order and two counts of making indecent images of children. His criminal history is extensive, with nine convictions for 15 previous offenses. Notably, in 2003, he was convicted of gross indecency after taking a 16-year-old girl to Birmingham overnight without her parents’ permission. He also has convictions from 2016 and 2017 for making indecent images of children.

During the court proceedings, His Honour Judge Rupert Mayo addressed Craddock directly, stating, “You were asked about the computer by police and you lied about it. This offending comes as close to the maximum sentence for a breach of an SHPO as it can.” The judge emphasized the severity of Craddock’s actions, describing him as “dangerous” and “highly manipulative,” with a clear pattern of seeking sexual gratification through manipulative means, especially involving young children.

Given the circumstances and Craddock’s early guilty plea, the judge sentenced him to three years in prison and imposed a new Sexual Harm Prevention Order. Craddock is already on the sex offenders’ register for life. His sentence includes serving half in custody and the remainder on license, which means that, factoring in time already served, he could potentially be released in approximately four months. This case underscores the ongoing risks posed by individuals like Craddock, who continue to reoffend despite previous convictions and strict legal restrictions.