ANDREW WRIGHT SCOTLAND SPAIN CRIME OFFENDER MONITORING
| Red Rose Database
Scotland Spain Child Sexual Abuser
In September 2017, a significant legal case unfolded in Edinburgh involving Andrew Wright, a convicted sex offender with a complex criminal history spanning multiple countries. Wright, who currently earns his living by distributing flyers for boat tours in Spain, sought to challenge the restrictions imposed by Police Scotland that require him to regularly update authorities about his whereabouts. He argued that these restrictions were hindering his ability to rebuild his life and live without constant oversight.
However, the court's decision was firmly against Wright. The Edinburgh Sheriff Court upheld the existing offender management system, affirming the authority of Police Scotland to maintain oversight over sex offenders like Wright. The court's ruling was a decisive reinforcement of police powers to monitor individuals deemed to pose a risk to the community.
Andrew Wright, now 48 years old, has a long and troubling criminal record. In 1997, he was sentenced to three and a half years in prison after being convicted of engaging in sexual activities with a child under the age of 13. Since that initial conviction, Wright has been imprisoned three additional times for failing to comply with the notification requirements that obligate him to inform police of his location and activities.
His criminal history extends beyond sexual offenses. The court heard evidence of his involvement in various other crimes, including drug offenses, theft, fraud, and acts of animal cruelty. These multiple convictions underscore a pattern of criminal behavior that has persisted over the years.
During the hearing, Sheriff Thomas Welsh QC dismissed Wright’s appeal and also rejected a similar legal challenge brought by another convicted sex offender. The court’s decision was supported by a series of judgments that emphasized the importance of maintaining strict police powers to manage offenders and protect public safety.
Sheriff Welsh noted that Wright had claimed to have changed significantly over the past five or ten years, asserting that his risk of reoffending had decreased from high to low since 2013. Despite this, Wright expressed frustration, claiming that the notification regime caused him considerable stress and anxiety, especially given the media attention surrounding his past offenses.
Police Scotland’s Offender Management Unit (OMU) indicated that they wanted to gather more information about Wright’s activities abroad before deciding whether to lift the notification requirements. Evidence presented in court revealed that Wright had been maintaining contact from Spain, where he currently resides. However, the OMU’s Detective Superintendent Laura McLuckie raised concerns about Wright’s intentions to return to the UK with his Filipina partner and their child, as well as his presence in the United Arab Emirates, where he is also wanted.
Ms. McLuckie highlighted that the details of Wright’s alleged offenses in the UAE were not fully known, raising further concerns about his potential risk. She pointed out that sexual offending and financial crimes can sometimes be interconnected, and that authorities and partners lacked complete information about his activities and background.
In her judgment, Sheriff Welsh emphasized that the authorities in Spain are aware of Wright’s presence but have taken no action against him. Additionally, he noted that Wright is unwelcome in the Philippines, where authorities are fully aware of his criminal history. The court’s ruling reaffirmed the importance of ongoing monitoring and the need for further investigation into Wright’s international activities before any changes to his offender management regime could be considered.
However, the court's decision was firmly against Wright. The Edinburgh Sheriff Court upheld the existing offender management system, affirming the authority of Police Scotland to maintain oversight over sex offenders like Wright. The court's ruling was a decisive reinforcement of police powers to monitor individuals deemed to pose a risk to the community.
Andrew Wright, now 48 years old, has a long and troubling criminal record. In 1997, he was sentenced to three and a half years in prison after being convicted of engaging in sexual activities with a child under the age of 13. Since that initial conviction, Wright has been imprisoned three additional times for failing to comply with the notification requirements that obligate him to inform police of his location and activities.
His criminal history extends beyond sexual offenses. The court heard evidence of his involvement in various other crimes, including drug offenses, theft, fraud, and acts of animal cruelty. These multiple convictions underscore a pattern of criminal behavior that has persisted over the years.
During the hearing, Sheriff Thomas Welsh QC dismissed Wright’s appeal and also rejected a similar legal challenge brought by another convicted sex offender. The court’s decision was supported by a series of judgments that emphasized the importance of maintaining strict police powers to manage offenders and protect public safety.
Sheriff Welsh noted that Wright had claimed to have changed significantly over the past five or ten years, asserting that his risk of reoffending had decreased from high to low since 2013. Despite this, Wright expressed frustration, claiming that the notification regime caused him considerable stress and anxiety, especially given the media attention surrounding his past offenses.
Police Scotland’s Offender Management Unit (OMU) indicated that they wanted to gather more information about Wright’s activities abroad before deciding whether to lift the notification requirements. Evidence presented in court revealed that Wright had been maintaining contact from Spain, where he currently resides. However, the OMU’s Detective Superintendent Laura McLuckie raised concerns about Wright’s intentions to return to the UK with his Filipina partner and their child, as well as his presence in the United Arab Emirates, where he is also wanted.
Ms. McLuckie highlighted that the details of Wright’s alleged offenses in the UAE were not fully known, raising further concerns about his potential risk. She pointed out that sexual offending and financial crimes can sometimes be interconnected, and that authorities and partners lacked complete information about his activities and background.
In her judgment, Sheriff Welsh emphasized that the authorities in Spain are aware of Wright’s presence but have taken no action against him. Additionally, he noted that Wright is unwelcome in the Philippines, where authorities are fully aware of his criminal history. The court’s ruling reaffirmed the importance of ongoing monitoring and the need for further investigation into Wright’s international activities before any changes to his offender management regime could be considered.