CURTIS BULL FROM CRICK NEARLY ESCAPES PRISON AFTER REPEATED SEX OFFENSES IN NORTHAMPTONSHIRE

In a recent court hearing held at Northampton Crown Court, Curtis Bull, a 29-year-old resident of Oak Lane, Crick, faced serious allegations related to sexual misconduct. The proceedings revealed that Bull had committed a sexual assault against a female victim in June 2019, an incident that he admitted to and pleaded guilty for. It was noted that at the time of the assault, Bull was under the influence of alcohol, which may have contributed to his behavior.

This case was not Bull's first encounter with the criminal justice system concerning sexual offenses. Back in 2016, he had already served a prison sentence after being convicted of a similar crime. During that incident, Bull caused bruising on another woman's neck, an act that led to his conviction and a 16-month prison term. His then-defense lawyer, Jonathan Dee, described that offense as an isolated incident that was 'out of character' for Bull, attempting to mitigate the severity of his actions.

During the recent hearing, Her Honour expressed her concern about the recurrence of Bull's behavior. She remarked, “There is no indication that you have any criminal tendencies whatsoever and it is very hard to see why, after you have served a custodial sentence, that you have done almost the exact same thing as you did in 2016.” The court acknowledged the pattern of behavior and considered the underlying issues that might have influenced Bull's actions.

His defense team argued that deeper psychological problems, including mental health concerns and heavy alcohol consumption, played a significant role in his offending. The judge accepted these explanations and emphasized that allowing Bull to work with probation services outside of prison could enhance public safety. As a result, Bull was sentenced to a 36-month community order, which includes 40 days of Rehabilitation Activity Requirement (RAR). Additionally, he was ordered to sign the Sex Offenders’ Register for an extended period of five years, participate in a specified sex offender intervention program for men, and undergo a six-month alcohol treatment program.

In her closing remarks, Her Honour issued a stern warning to Bull, stating, “Make sure you attend every appointment with the probation service as if you were holding a winning lottery ticket. That’s how seriously you should take this, or you will end up in prison.” The court's decision reflects a balance between punishment and rehabilitation, with an emphasis on monitoring and addressing the underlying issues that contribute to such offending behavior.

Looking back to April 2016, Bull had previously been sentenced to 16 months in jail after admitting to sexually assaulting a woman in Northamptonshire. During that case, he was found guilty of groping the victim on November 21 of the previous year, which caused her to fear she might be raped. The court heard that Bull made a series of aggressive grabs towards the woman, resulting in a bruise on her neck. Prosecutor Caroline Bray described the victim's fear of being raped, highlighting the severity of the assault.

Judge Adrienne Lucking emphasized that the seriousness of the offense warranted immediate imprisonment. Bull was sentenced to serve half of his 16-month term in custody before being released on license. He was also ordered to register as a sex offender for ten years, underscoring the ongoing risk he posed to the community. This history of repeated offenses underscores the challenges faced by the justice system in managing repeat offenders like Curtis Bull, especially when underlying issues such as mental health and substance abuse are involved.