THOMAS MCPHEE'S CRIMINAL REIGN IN LINCOLN AND BOSTON ENDS WITH THREE-YEAR JAIL SENTENCE

In a significant legal development, Thomas McPhee, a known sex offender with a troubling history, has been sentenced to three years in prison by Lincoln Crown Court. The case highlights his failure to comply with legal obligations and his deceptive behavior regarding his residential addresses, which posed ongoing risks to the community.

According to court proceedings, McPhee, who has a long-standing record of sex offenses, did not inform authorities when he changed his living arrangements. During the autumn of 2010, he spent several weeks residing at the home of a vulnerable woman in Lincoln, a fact that he did not disclose to the police. Instead, he falsely reported that he was living at a homeless shelter in Lincoln, a claim that was proven to be untrue.

The prosecution, led by Mark Knowles, detailed how McPhee initially stayed on a sofa at one address before moving to another residence on Newland Street West in Lincoln’s West End. During this period, he even shared a bedroom with a 12-year-old boy on one occasion, raising serious concerns about his behavior and the potential threat he posed. Subsequently, McPhee spent approximately eight weeks living at a different address in Chapel Street, Boston, without notifying the authorities, further complicating efforts to monitor his movements.

McPhee, who was described as having no fixed address at the time, admitted to breaching the terms of a sex offender order issued against him in 2002. He also pleaded guilty to two additional charges related to his failure to update his address details as required by law. The court was informed that McPhee has a history of non-compliance, with six previous convictions for similar breaches. Notably, he was sentenced to eight years in prison at Nottingham Crown Court in 2003 for related offenses.

During the hearing, Gareth Wheetman, representing McPhee, explained that his client had already spent 147 days in custody since his arrest, emphasizing that his non-compliance was not due to deliberate defiance but rather homelessness. Despite this, Judge Michael Heath expressed serious concerns about McPhee’s behavior and the potential danger he posed.

Judge Heath stated that McPhee had targeted women with children and described him as a devious individual who had made it difficult for law enforcement to track his whereabouts. The court also imposed a Sexual Offences Prevention Order, which prohibits McPhee from contacting, approaching, living with, or working with any child under the age of 16. This order aims to prevent any future harm and protect vulnerable members of the community from his predatory behavior.

Overall, the case underscores the ongoing challenges faced by authorities in monitoring sex offenders and the importance of strict legal measures to safeguard the public from individuals with a history of offending and non-compliance.