Paedophile’s Bid to Work with Children Slammed by Court of Appeal
Appeal to Lift Ban Crushed
A convicted paedophile’s desperate attempt to overturn a ban on working with children has been flatly rejected by the Court of Appeal. Thorpe, arguing through his barrister, claimed the existing Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) system was enough to regulate such jobs. His legal team said the court-imposed restriction was an “unnecessary barrier” to future employment.
But judges weren’t having it.
Judges Slam Thorpe as Dangerous
On July 30, Mr Justice Bourne delivered a scathing ruling, making it crystal clear that Thorpe poses a serious threat:
“The appellant is dangerous, based on detailed findings about his grooming behaviour, possession of indecent images, and internet searches containing extremely concerning references to sexually violent acts involving young or ‘teen’ girls.”
“There is a pressing need to protect young girls from being sexually harmed by the appellant.”
As a result, Thorpe must stay under a Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO), banning him from any work that involves unsupervised contact with children.
Dark History & Strict Controls
- Thorpe’s crimes include attempting to communicate sexually with underage girls online.
- He tried to incite children into sexual activity.
- His SHPO monitors and restricts his internet use to prevent harmful behaviour.
Safeguarding experts have welcomed the court’s hardline stance, insisting multi-layered protections are vital to keep vulnerable youngsters safe from repeat offenders.
Child Protection Comes First
A spokesperson from a leading child protection charity said: “This ruling sends a clear message: safeguarding children must always come first. SHPOs are crucial tools to stop offenders like Thorpe exploiting loopholes or gaining unsupervised access to young people.”
Thorpe remains under the SHPO indefinitely. Any breach could land him back in court and behind bars.
