ADRIAN WINTLE FROM BLACKBURN AND DAREN PLANS HOLIDAY WITH NEIGHBOURS DESPITE SEX OFFENDER STATUS

In August 2018, a disturbing case emerged involving Adrian Wintle, a registered sex offender from Blackburn, who had secretly planned to go on holiday with his neighbours and their children in Lanzarote. The details of this case were brought to light during a court hearing at Preston Crown Court, revealing the extent of Wintle's breach of legal restrictions and the potential risk posed to the local community.

Adrian Wintle, aged 74, had previously been subjected to a sexual offences prevention order in May 2012 following a conviction for sexually assaulting a child under the age of 13. This court order was designed to restrict his contact with minors and prevent any further offences. Despite this, in May 2018, a police officer visited Wintle’s residence to conduct a routine check on his compliance with the court order. During this visit, the officer uncovered troubling information: Wintle had been making plans to travel abroad and had been in contact with the children of his neighbours in Openshaw Drive, Blackburn.

Prosecutor Paul Cummings explained to the court that Wintle had established a relationship with the family, becoming a trusted neighbour and friend. This familiarity had led to multiple breaches of his court order. The first breach occurred in August 2016 when a young girl living next door was unable to access her home after school because she had forgotten her keys, and her parents were working in Warrington. The girl was advised by her parents to wait at her aunt’s house, and she was allowed into Wintle’s residence to wait there. A relative of Wintle was present at the time, which further complicated the situation.

The court also heard that Wintle had ongoing contact with the family’s daughter between May 2016 and November 2017. While there was no evidence to suggest any sexual offences took place during this period, the fact that Wintle maintained contact with the girl was a clear breach of his court order. The family was unaware of Wintle’s previous conviction, which added to the gravity of the situation.

Wintle, who now resides on Ainsworth Close in Darwen, pleaded guilty to two breaches of his sexual offences prevention order. The court sentenced him to eight months in prison, but this sentence was suspended for two years, meaning he would not serve time unless he committed another offence within that period.

Judge Simon Medland QC addressed the court regarding the impact of Wintle’s actions on the family. He stated, “They will never forgive you. It has caused them to doubt themselves as parents. They feel they put their children at risk.” The case highlights the ongoing concerns about the safety of children in communities where registered sex offenders reside, especially when legal restrictions are not fully respected or enforced.