A paedophile with a history of sexual offences against children has avoided jail time despite breaching a court order by befriending a vulnerable 14-year-old boy he met while volunteering at a food bank.

Jack Wesley, 35, of Firhill Road in Catford, has a disturbing record of sexual offences towards children. In 2012, he was jailed for a year and a half for grooming a 14-year-old schoolboy in Essex, taking him to a park and performing sexual acts on him. In 2016, he was sentenced to seven years in prison after moving to the West Midlands, where he began pimping out boys aged between 13 and 15 to adult men.

Wesley breached a court order banning him from communicating with anyone under the age of 16 by befriending a 14-year-old boy he met at a local food bank. He had conversations with the boy about his sexuality, which came to light when a relative walked in on a video call between Wesley and the boy. The relative contacted the police, who informed her of Wesley’s history as a convicted sex offender.

Wesley was previously warned that he faced prison time for this offence. However, on Thursday (June 27), he was spared a prison sentence after a judge deemed it would be unfair on his seriously ill mother, for whom Wesley acts as a carer.

Court Proceedings

During the hearing at Woolwich Crown Court, prosecutor Claire Cooper revealed that Wesley met one of the boy’s relatives while volunteering at the food bank between October and December last year. He exchanged messages with the boy, including discussions about the boy’s sexuality. Although the messages were not explicitly sexual, Ms. Cooper noted the significant concern given Wesley’s previous convictions.

Ms. Cooper stated, “Given his previous convictions, one can see the concerns that any police officer, parent, and child would have with the conversation.” She added that there was a large chance Wesley would have tried to meet the boy.

Barrister Mr McKenna, representing Wesley, conceded there was a risk of harm to the teen but argued there was no evidence of grooming behaviour. In mitigation, Mr McKenna highlighted Wesley’s role as a carer for his seriously ill mother and his own debilitating Gardner’s syndrome, which would make prison exceptionally hard for him.

Judge’s Decision

Judge Christopher Grout acknowledged Wesley’s significant risk to the public, particularly children, but also considered his debilitating medical condition and the impact of an immediate custodial sentence on his mother. Judge Grout stated, “I have to say that description is difficult to reconcile with your antecedent record and current offending.”

He concluded that a 20-month sentence was appropriate but decided to suspend it for 18 months, citing Wesley’s medical condition and the current overcrowding in prisons. “By the narrowest of margins,” he said, “I decided to suspend the sentence.”

A Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO) remains in place for Wesley.

Conclusion

This case highlights the delicate balance judges must strike between ensuring public safety and considering the personal circumstances of offenders. While Wesley’s actions have caused significant concern, his role as a carer and his medical condition influenced the decision to suspend his sentence.

For more information on safeguarding and protecting vulnerable individuals, visit the NSPCC’s website or contact your local authorities.