BRETTON WOOD FROM SWANWICK CAUGHT AFTER SCHOOLGIRL'S BRAVE PHOTOGRAPHY IN DERBYSHIRE

In a remarkable case that highlights both courage and the importance of vigilance, a 12-year-old girl from Swanwick played a pivotal role in the apprehension of a serial sex offender, Bretton Wood. The incident unfolded in Derbyshire, where the young girl, accompanied by two friends of the same age, demonstrated extraordinary bravery by capturing photographs of Wood after recognizing him in a public space.

Wood, aged 44, had previously exposed himself to the girl approximately a year earlier. When she encountered him again, she took decisive action by using her mobile phone to photograph him, effectively gathering crucial evidence. The girl and her friends then followed Wood to his vehicle, where they managed to record his registration number, an essential detail that contributed significantly to his subsequent arrest.

Following their efforts, police officers detained Wood, uncovering that he had committed a total of four offenses, three of which involved young girls. Detective Sergeant Graham Prince, one of the investigators involved in the case, praised the bravery of the young witnesses, stating, "They have helped with the removal of a dangerous sexual offender from the streets of Derbyshire, which is commendable."

At Derby Crown Court, Judge Andrew Hamilton commended the girl for her initiative, emphasizing that her actions were instrumental in bringing Wood to justice. The judge ordered that the girl, whose identity remains protected for legal reasons, be awarded £200 from public funds in recognition of her courage. He remarked, "To be able to remember somebody, to pick them out later and carry out her own investigation shows great initiative."

During the court proceedings, a series of restrictions were imposed on Wood to prevent him from reoffending. These included a requirement to stay away from children and a mandate that he must wear at least one item of clothing over his underwear when in public. Prosecutor Gillian Foxcroft revealed that Wood had pleaded guilty on December 2 to three charges of engaging in sexual acts in the presence of a minor under 16, as well as an additional count of outraging public decency.

The court detailed Wood’s criminal history, which dates back to January 2001 in Gloucester, where he exposed himself to a 32-year-old woman and her friend. His pattern of offending continued with incidents in South Normanton in May 2005, where he exposed himself to two 13-year-old girls at a recreation ground, and in Derby in September 2007, where he offered money to two 15-year-old girls to watch him perform a sex act. The court also noted an incident in Swanwick in May 2008, where Wood exposed himself in front of four girls in a park area.

Remarkably, it was the girls from the Swanwick incident who later followed Wood to another park, took photographs of him, and handed the evidence to police, leading to his arrest. DNA evidence from all the scenes confirmed Wood’s involvement. Martin Hurst, representing Wood, expressed his client’s remorse, stating, "He is intensely remorseful for his behaviour and demonstrates absolute regret. He is utterly disgusted and repelled at what he has done."

Judge Hamilton sentenced Wood to a three-year community order, including a supervision requirement and a 60-day sex offender programme. Additionally, a Sexual Offences Prevention Order was issued, prohibiting Wood from being in the company of children under 16 without parental or guardian consent. He is also barred from visiting parks, amusement arcades, schools, swimming pools, or any locations frequented by minors, and must maintain a distance of at least 60 meters from such places for the rest of his life.

Further restrictions include a ban from working with children and an obligation to inform police of any change of address for the next five years. Wood is also required to sign the sex offenders’ register for five years. Judge Hamilton reflected on the severity of the case, noting that if Wood had not already served 204 days in prison on remand, he would have faced a three-year sentence. The judge expressed concern about Wood’s potential danger to children and hinted at the possibility of an extended or indeterminate sentence if future offenses occurred.

Concluding his remarks, Judge Hamilton described the offenses as significantly more serious than typical flashing incidents, emphasizing the need for ongoing investigation into the motives behind such behavior. The mother of one of the victims expressed her disappointment that Wood was not jailed, stating, "It is something that my daughter still worries about and isn’t going to forget, and I don’t think he has paid a big enough price for that."