TIMOTHY EDMEADES SHOCKS ABERGELE AND LETHAM WITH CHILD SEX OFFENSES AND COURT BREACHES

In a series of disturbing incidents spanning several years, Timothy Edmeades, a man with a troubling criminal history, has once again come under scrutiny for breaching court orders designed to protect children from his predatory behavior. Originally from South Ockendon and now residing in Bungay, Suffolk, Edmeades's activities have raised serious concerns among law enforcement and the community in Abergele and Letham.

Back in August 2012, Edmeades was caught lurking at a children’s karate event on Luncies Road, Pitsea, where he was seen taking photographs of young participants. His presence at this event was particularly alarming given his prior conviction for sexually assaulting two young boys and grooming them during swimming trips in 2008. Despite his criminal record, Edmeades had been involved in voluntary work with the Basildon Heritage Club, which is based at Wat Tyler Country Park in Pitsea, raising questions about the adequacy of safeguarding measures.

He was dressed casually during the incident, which was captured by police and the Echo, and was later arrested. Police investigations revealed that Edmeades had purchased a laptop after his release from prison in August 2010, despite being under a Sexual Offences Prevention Order (SOPO) that explicitly banned him from owning a computer or having contact with children. The laptop contained photographs of children taken at various Heritage Club events, further breaching the court order.

During the police search of his home, officers also discovered that Edmeades had sent a Facebook friend request to a 13-year-old boy he met at an Olympic celebration in Wickford. His solicitor, Matthew Bone, attempted to defend his client by stating that the Basildon Heritage Club was not an organization attractive to children and that Edmeades was trying to reintegrate into the workforce to improve his future prospects. Bone emphasized that there was no evidence of improper conduct, only that Edmeades had made a mother uncomfortable by his actions.

However, the court was not convinced. At Basildon Crown Court, Judge Jonathan Black sentenced Edmeades to seven months in prison after he admitted to three breaches of his Sexual Offences Prevention Order. A new order was also issued, extending until 2023, to further restrict his activities. Addressing Edmeades directly, Judge Black stated, “You were made subject to a sexual offences prevention order for sexual assaults on children and having indecent images of them. You must have known there was a risk of you being involved with children through your voluntary work but you still continued to take that risk. You are in denial about the risk you pose to young children and for that reason there are no community-based alternatives acceptable to me.”

Earlier, in May 2013, Edmeades faced accusations of repeatedly breaching his court order. He appeared at Basildon Magistrates Court charged with four counts of violating the Sexual Offences Prevention Order, which had been issued in 2008 following his conviction for grooming and sexually assaulting two boys aged nine and ten. The order prohibited him from working with children, being alone with them, or owning a computer for ten years. Despite these restrictions, he was caught taking photographs of children at a karate open day and attempting to contact a 13-year-old boy via Facebook.

His history of offending dates back to June 2008, when he was sentenced to 33 months in prison for abusing his position as a Cub Scout leader. During that time, he sexually assaulted two young boys and was found to possess numerous child sexual abuse images on his computer. His actions led to a lifetime registration on the sex offenders register and a decade-long ban from working with or being alone with children.

Throughout these incidents, Edmeades’s involvement in community activities and voluntary work has been marred by his criminal past and ongoing breaches of court orders. His case continues to serve as a stark reminder of the importance of vigilant safeguarding and the challenges faced in monitoring individuals with a history of child sexual offenses, especially when they seek to reintegrate into society and participate in community events involving children.