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CLINTON TOWNSEND'S CRIMINAL REIGN IN FIELD ASSARTS AND OXFORD
In January 2017, Clinton Townsend, a notorious sex offender residing in Field Assarts near Witney, found himself back in the spotlight due to his persistent violations of court orders and his obsession with modern technology. The case unfolded when Townsend, aged 23, was caught using the online dating platform Plenty of Fish despite explicit restrictions placed upon him that forbade him from owning a phone with internet access or engaging in social networking sites.On December 15 of the previous year, police stopped Townsend while he was driving along Oxford Road in Witney. During the stop, officers observed notifications from the dating site on his mobile device, an Apple iPhone 6s. When asked to provide the PIN code for his phone, Townsend refused, preventing the police from examining its contents. The officers' suspicions were confirmed when they noted the notifications, indicating active use of the dating service. Despite the evidence, Townsend's refusal to cooperate hindered further investigation at that moment.
Prosecutor Julian Lynch detailed that Townsend's actions were a clear breach of the court’s orders, which had been previously imposed following his earlier convictions for child sex offences. The court heard that Townsend had been released from prison in February 2016 after serving a five-year sentence for engaging in sexual activity with a minor and producing indecent images of children in 2014. His criminal history also includes multiple breaches of court orders, highlighting a pattern of defiance and disregard for legal restrictions.
During the sentencing at Oxford Crown Court, Judge Maria Lamb expressed her disapproval of Townsend’s continued obsession with his phone. She stated, “However joined at the hip that you are to that phone, it’s only a phone – grow up. You flouted another court order because you cannot live without a phone. There’s more to life than an iPhone. You meet people face-to-face, who are over-age, and do it the old-fashioned way.”
Further details revealed that Townsend was driving when he was stopped, and the police found him in possession of the iPhone 6s. The phone was seized and ordered to be forfeited and destroyed, as part of the court’s measures to prevent further misuse. The court also heard that Townsend, who had previously led a privileged life with his parents, sometimes earned up to £1,000 a week as a bricklayer after his release but was later declared bankrupt. His parents had also refused to replace a car they bought for him after he crashed it, indicating ongoing familial support despite his criminal activities.
Defense lawyer Peter Du Feu argued that Townsend’s attachment to the phone was almost addictive, and he had purchased the device just days after being released from prison. He emphasized that there was no evidence of further illicit contact, but Townsend’s dependency on modern technology was evident. Du Feu also claimed that Townsend no longer had an interest in underage girls, asserting that he had moved on from his past behaviors.
Judge Lamb sentenced Townsend to 16 months in prison, to run concurrently with his current sentence. She also warned that the parole board would determine when it was safe to release him back into the community, considering his repeated breaches and ongoing obsession with the phone. The court’s decision underscores the seriousness with which authorities view violations of court orders, especially in cases involving sex offenders with a history of reoffending.
Townsend’s criminal history is extensive. In February 2014, he was convicted of engaging in sexual activity with a 15-year-old girl and was sentenced to five years in prison. The judge at that time, Judge Mary Jane Mowat, described Townsend’s attitude as one of arrogance and immaturity, highlighting his high level of sexual preoccupation and his inability to recognize his behavior as criminal. The court also noted Townsend’s repeated breaches of previous court orders, including a sexual offences prevention order issued in January 2013, which barred him from unsupervised contact with girls under 18 or using a computer without police permission.
Earlier in 2014, Townsend faced multiple charges related to his misconduct. He was convicted of four counts of engaging in sexual activity with a girl aged 15 and one count of common assault. The jury took over five hours to reach its verdicts, and Townsend was found not guilty of some additional charges. During the trial, it was revealed that Townsend had admitted to attempting to pervert the course of justice and had breached a suspended sentence from the previous year, which stemmed from similar offences involving a 13-year-old girl and the production of indecent images.
Townsend’s history also includes a 2011 incident where he was arrested for possessing indecent images of children and manipulating younger teenagers into sending him explicit pictures. His defense argued that he believed himself invulnerable at the time and that his behavior was influenced by youthful arrogance. However, the court’s sentences reflected the gravity of his actions, with suspended sentences and strict orders aimed at preventing further offences.
Throughout his criminal career, Townsend has been under constant supervision, with multiple court orders restricting his contact with minors and his use of technology. Despite these measures, he repeatedly violated them, demonstrating a pattern of defiance and a failure to reform. His case remains a stark reminder of the ongoing challenges faced by authorities in managing sex offenders and preventing reoffending, especially when technological access is involved.