STOURBRIDGE SEX OFFENDER STEVE GUBBINS BREACHES COURT ORDER AT LOCAL FAIRGROUND

In December 2017, a serious breach of court-ordered restrictions was committed by Steve Gubbins, a convicted sex offender from Stourbridge. Gubbins, who had previously been convicted of child grooming offenses, was under a Community Order and subject to a Sexual Harm Protection Order that explicitly prohibited him from having any contact with minors under the age of 16. Despite these legal restrictions, Gubbins was found working at a fair in Market Street, Stourbridge, where he was seen taking money from children for rides, directly contravening the court’s directives.

Prosecutor Phillip Brunt told Wolverhampton Crown Court that Gubbins’s actions represented a blatant violation of the court’s orders. The court had previously mandated that Gubbins avoid any contact with minors, yet he chose to work at the fairground, an environment filled with children. This act was described as a “flagrant breach” of the court’s ruling. Additionally, Gubbins had failed to comply with his obligation to report to police as part of his sex offender registration requirements, further demonstrating his disregard for legal restrictions.

At the time of the breach, Gubbins was reported to have no fixed address and was living on the streets. He admitted to breaching both the Sexual Harm Protection Order and the requirement to register as a sex offender. In response, the court sentenced him to six months in jail, but this sentence was suspended for 18 months, meaning he would not serve time unless he committed further offenses within that period.

Gubbins’s defense lawyer, Peter Hemming, explained that his client was in a difficult financial situation. Hemming stated that Gubbins needed to work to earn some money, especially since he was homeless at the time. “He went to the fairground for financial gain,” Hemming told the court. Despite this, he emphasized that Gubbins had been in custody since his arrest and expressed confidence that his client was now committed to avoiding any future breaches of court orders.

Recorder Michelle Heeley QC addressed Gubbins directly, emphasizing the seriousness of his actions. She pointed out that the court’s orders were specifically designed to protect children from potential harm. “You breached them by working with children at the fairground,” she said. While she acknowledged the gravity of the offense, she also offered a note of hope, indicating that Gubbins could still turn his life around if he remained compliant with the law moving forward.