CHRISTOPHER RACE BUSTED IN BISHOP AUCKLAND: SEX OFFENDER'S REPEATED BREACHES LAND HIM IN JAIL

In a serious development in the ongoing efforts to monitor and control convicted sex offenders, Christopher Paul Stephen Race, a 23-year-old with a long and troubling history of disregarding court orders, has been sentenced to prison for multiple breaches of his sexual harm prevention order. The incidents took place in Bishop Auckland, a town where Race had previously been known to frequent, and involved interactions with children that raised significant concerns about his compliance with legal restrictions.

Race’s criminal history dates back to his early teens. At just 14 years old, he was cautioned for the rape of a boy under the age of 13. His pattern of offending continued over the years, with convictions in 2011 for engaging in sexual activity with a child under 13, and subsequent convictions in 2012 and 2015 for similar offences, including one dating from 2010. His repeated violations of court orders, including breaching a sexual harm prevention order in 2015, and multiple breaches in 2016 and 2017, underscored a persistent pattern of non-compliance.

Most recently, Race appeared before Durham Crown Court via video link to face charges related to three further breaches of his sexual harm prevention order. Prosecutor Chris Baker outlined that Race was residing in supported accommodation in Chester-le-Street last month when he traveled to various locations, including Crook and Bishop Auckland. During his visits, he engaged in activities that were strictly prohibited under his court-mandated restrictions. Specifically, Race was found to have been babysitting in Bishop Auckland with another man, during which he read to one of the children. Court records indicated that he visited the same location three additional times when children were present, despite being aware of the restrictions placed upon him.

Further complicating the case, Race failed to inform the man he was babysitting with, or the parents of the children, that he was under a sexual harm prevention order. The court heard that the other man allowed one of the children in Bishop Auckland to “give him a cuddle,” an act that highlighted the potential risk posed by Race’s presence and actions.

Registered as residing on Winifred Terrace in Sunderland, Race pleaded guilty at Peterlee Magistrates’ Court on August 31 to breaching the notification requirements of his sexual harm prevention order, which had been imposed in 2016. His breaches included staying at an address in Bishop Auckland and having unsupervised contact with children in Crook and Bishop Auckland on August 19 and August 25. These violations directly contravened the conditions of his order and also constituted a breach of a suspended sentence handed down in Newcastle in October 2017 for battery.

During the hearing, James Adams, representing Race, argued that his client was a vulnerable individual with a low IQ, emphasizing his need for rehabilitation rather than punishment. Adams stated, “The reality is there is no sexual offending here at all, nor was there any contemplated.” Despite this, the court found sufficient grounds to impose a custodial sentence.

Recorder Ian Atherton sentenced Race to six months in custody, with half of that time to be served behind bars. Additionally, a five-year sexual harm prevention order was imposed to further restrict Race’s activities and protect the community. Notably, the court chose not to take action regarding the breach of the suspended sentence from 2017.

In his remarks, Recorder Atherton pointed out that Race possessed enough intellectual capacity to understand the difference between right and wrong and was aware that he was breaching his court orders. The case underscores the ongoing challenges faced by authorities in monitoring offenders with complex histories and the importance of strict enforcement of court-imposed restrictions to safeguard vulnerable children and communities in Bishop Auckland and beyond.