SCOTT TAYLOR BUSTED FOR ILLEGAL DJ GIG AT BURY CHILDREN'S PARTY

In March 2013, Scott Anthony Taylor, a 30-year-old man from Bury, found himself at the center of a serious breach of court orders designed to protect minors. Taylor, who had previously been convicted of sexual offenses involving a schoolgirl he met online, had been explicitly instructed by the court not to work with children or have any unsupervised contact with minors under the age of 16. Despite these restrictions, Taylor took it upon himself to work as a DJ at a children’s disco event, an act that would soon lead to legal repercussions.

On the day of the event, Taylor was hired to perform at a monthly children’s disco organized by the Funtastic Play Centre located in Radcliffe. The event was scheduled to cater to children aged from birth up to 11 years old. The venue’s management, having prior knowledge of Taylor’s criminal record, became suspicious after the event concluded and promptly contacted the police. It was revealed that Taylor had performed for over two hours, entertaining a crowd of approximately 25 children, and had received a fee of £30 for his services.

During police questioning, Taylor claimed that he had not fully understood the conditions of his court order, which prohibited him from working with children or having unsupervised contact with minors. His actions, however, clearly violated the restrictions imposed upon him following his previous conviction. Taylor’s criminal history includes a nine-month jail sentence handed down in 2010 after he admitted to traveling three times to Northern Ireland to engage in sexual activity with a 15-year-old girl he had groomed online.

Following the breach, Taylor was arrested and brought before Bury magistrates court. Prosecutor Shazia Aslam emphasized the seriousness of the violation, stating, “The defendant is prohibited from working with children or any vulnerable adults and is allowed no unsupervised contact with any under-16 unless it is consented by the parents or police.” She further explained that the event at the Funtastic Play Centre was organized as a regular monthly children’s disco, with the first session scheduled for March 1. The venue’s manager had contacted Taylor, who is the brother of a close friend, to set up the event. Taylor set up his DJ equipment and lighting, and children began arriving at 5:45 pm, accompanied by their parents for supervision. The event concluded at 8 pm, with Taylor leaving the premises at around 8:30 pm.

In his defense, Taylor’s lawyer, Emma Savage, acknowledged that there was some confusion regarding the conditions of his sex offender order, suggesting that this misunderstanding contributed to his breach. Taylor, who is currently unemployed, admitted to the violation during an earlier hearing. The court responded by imposing a six-month community order with supervision, along with a requirement to pay £85 in costs and a £60 victim surcharge.

Funtastic Play Centre issued a statement expressing their dismay over the incident, stating, “Everyone at Funtastic Play Centre is deeply upset by the recent events and we are relieved the matter has been dealt with.” The case highlights the ongoing concerns about the enforcement of restrictions placed on convicted sex offenders and the importance of vigilance in safeguarding children from potential harm.