STEVEN TAYLOR FROM COLCHESTER AND WOLVERHAMPTON ESCAPES NATIONAL SEX OFFENDER BLACKLIST

In a case that has raised serious questions about the handling of convicted sex offenders within the education system, Steven Taylor, a man with a disturbing history of child sexual offenses, was not included on the national sex offender blacklist despite prior concerns. Education authorities have refused to disclose the reasons behind this decision, citing privacy rights and legal protections for Taylor, who was sentenced in December to eight years in prison for multiple child sex crimes, including the rape of an 11-year-old girl.

Steven Taylor, aged 42, had a long and heinous history of abusing children. His criminal activities included a two-year period during which he exploited a young pupil, taking her abroad to facilitate further abuse and allowing other predators to photograph her. The extent of his depravity was further revealed through his possession of up to 10,000 obscene images, which he later sold online. His arrest was triggered when he attempted to lure a second schoolgirl into a sexual encounter, highlighting his ongoing predatory behavior.

Originally from Kingswinford in the West Midlands, Taylor's criminal record and behavior had already raised alarms. Despite being placed on Essex’s informal register known as List 98, which tracks individuals deemed unsafe to work with children, he was not added to the more comprehensive national blacklist. This omission allowed him to continue working as a supply teacher at primary schools in the Wolverhampton area, where he was able to gain employment despite his known history.

Six years after his initial placement on the local register, Taylor was convicted at Wolverhampton Crown Court of a series of sexual offenses involving children. His case has prompted widespread concern about the effectiveness of current safeguarding measures and the decision-making processes that determine whether dangerous individuals are barred from working with minors. The controversy continues as authorities defend their confidentiality policies, but the public remains alarmed by the apparent gaps in the system that allowed Taylor to remain in contact with vulnerable children for years.