DANGEROUS PAEDOPHILE DAVID HIGGS AND CHRISTOPHER WILLIAMS LIVING IN RISHTON HOME SHOCK NEIGHBOURS

In a disturbing revelation that has left the residents of Rishton in shock, it was uncovered that two convicted paedophiles were residing together in a house on Edward Street, a location where they reportedly 'entertained' school-aged children on a regular basis. The two men, David Higgs, aged 28, and Christopher Williams, aged 49, both have a history of sexual offences and are subject to strict sexual offences prevention orders (SOPOs).

Despite their criminal backgrounds and legal restrictions, both men found themselves living under the same roof, a situation that only came to light after Williams decided to report Higgs to the police. Authorities explained that they had been unable to prevent the pair from cohabiting in the property, but their concerns escalated dramatically after an unannounced visit to the residence in Edward Street. During this visit, officers discovered Higgs had recently moved into the house, which immediately raised alarm bells among the detectives.

Following the visit, law enforcement officials intensified their surveillance of the property. Their vigilance paid off when a complaint was lodged, prompting officers to arrest both Higgs and Williams. The arrests occurred before any further harm could be inflicted, but not before a disturbing incident involving children. It was revealed that at least one child had spent the night at the house, mistakenly believing cigarettes and alcohol were available there, and other children had visited the premises over a period of several days.

Further investigations uncovered that the pair had been involved in a heated argument at the house, during which Williams disclosed a series of children who had visited the property. Both men are legally prohibited from associating with minors under 16 and from having children in their homes, as stipulated by their SOPOs. The situation was deemed a major concern by the police, given the potential risk posed to vulnerable children in the community.

Neighbours living on Edward Street described the property as a 'magnet' for young children, who frequently arrived and entered through the back door. Chloe, a 28-year-old resident, expressed her shock upon learning that not just one, but two convicted paedophiles were living in the same house. She said, “Everyone knew there was a paedophile there but not that there was two. It is horrible to think that they were there.”

Another neighbour, Emma, aged 26, shared her fears, stating, “I used to ban my children from going out in front of the house. I was that scared about what was going on there. You cannot believe that two paedophiles can be allowed to live together, even if they are being monitored.”

Following the case, Detective Sergeant Craig Blackwell emphasized the importance of vigilant monitoring of sexual offenders in Lancashire. He explained, “It was when we completed an unannounced visit on the property that we discovered Higgs had just moved in. As a result of that visit, our concerns were raised, and we escalated our monitoring, which led to the arrests.”

Both men appeared before the court, where they admitted to breaching their sexual offences prevention orders. Higgs was subsequently sentenced to 18 months in prison, while Williams is awaiting sentencing scheduled for the following month. Williams has a prior conviction for indecent assault, having served seven years behind bars for assaulting a 12-year-old boy whose hands and feet were bound during the attack. Higgs’s criminal record includes a sexual offence involving a 14-year-old girl, as revealed during the proceedings at Burnley Crown Court.

It was noted that Williams had been living at Edward Street without incident for approximately two and a half years before Higgs moved in. The court heard that the two men had met at a hostel and that their relationship had led to a breach of their respective orders. The court was also informed that both men had been involved in entertaining children under 16 over a period of seven or eight days, raising serious concerns about community safety.

Judge Jonathan Gibson addressed the court, stating, “Parents in Rishton must have been alarmed to find that you disregarded the SOPO in the way that you did and children were placed at risk because of your background and previous conviction.” The case has highlighted the ongoing challenges faced by law enforcement in monitoring dangerous sexual offenders and protecting vulnerable children from potential harm in the community.