Colin Luke, a 69-year-old convicted sex offender, has been sent back to prison after repeatedly violating the terms of his court order. Luke engaged in a campaign of harassment and stalking against individuals living and working in Langley Park, County Durham over a four-week period in October of last year.
During his spree, Luke exposed his genitals to shoppers at the Premier Store in the village and continuously harassed the staff at the Co-op store and a hair salon. He visited these establishments excessively, making inappropriate comments about the appearance of staff members and invading their personal space.
In addition, Luke violated his Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO) by talking to several children in the village and visiting a children’s play park. The SHPO explicitly prohibited him from having any contact with children. It is worth noting that Luke had recently been released from prison, having served time for the abduction and sexual assault of a schoolgirl in Bowburn in 2014.
Following an investigation by the Public Protection Unit of Durham Constabulary, Luke was swiftly apprehended and subsequently charged with six offences, including exposure, stalking, harassment, and breaching a SHPO. He pleaded guilty to all charges.
On January 10, Luke appeared at Durham Crown Court, where he was sentenced to two years and four months in prison.
Detective Constable Aimee Crawford, who led the investigation, emphasised the seriousness with which sex offenders are managed and the significant resources invested to ensure public safety. She stated, “Sexual Harm Prevention Orders are just one of the tools we can use to help keep people safe. These allow us to monitor offenders’ activity in the community, and where they fail to comply, will return them to jail.”
Durham Constabulary urges anyone who has experienced a sexual offence or knows someone who has to report it to the police either online or via 101. In case of an emergency, always dial 999.
