DEAN FREEMAN'S HORRIFIC CRIME IN PITSEA SPARKS OUTRAGE AND CALLS FOR CLOSURE OF FELMORES BAIL HOSTEL

In August 2011, the town of Pitsea was shaken by a disturbing case involving Dean Freeman, a 24-year-old man with a troubling criminal history. Freeman was sentenced to a decade behind bars after being convicted of sexually assaulting a young boy in a public restroom within the town. The incident, which took place during the Easter school holidays, highlighted serious failures in the management and monitoring of convicted sex offenders in the area.

Freeman had previously served a sentence of five years and eight months for abducting a ten-year-old boy. However, he was released from prison months before the assault, raising questions about the effectiveness of the parole and supervision systems. Despite having served only half of his original sentence, Freeman was placed in a bail hostel located on a residential estate near two primary schools, Felmores and Northlands Park. This placement was highly controversial and met with strong opposition from local residents.

The bail hostel, which opened in 1978 amid local protests, is situated in close proximity to schools and family homes. It is known to house serious sex offenders, and numerous inhabitants have committed offenses against women and children. The decision to house Freeman there was criticized by community members, who expressed fears about the safety of children in the neighborhood.

On April 15, Freeman visited the town center and entered a McDonald's restaurant filled with schoolchildren. It was there that he lured a seven-year-old boy into a toilet and subjected him to a sexual assault. The court heard that Freeman admitted to causing or inciting a child under 13 to engage in sexual activity. He also acknowledged breaching a Sexual Offences Prevention Order issued by Basildon Crown Court in September 2008, which prohibited him from communicating with any child under 16.

During the hearing at Basildon Crown Court, Judge Ian Graham decided to adjourn sentencing to allow for further reports and remanded Freeman into custody. The case has reignited calls from local parents and residents for the closure of Felmores Bail Hostel, citing ongoing concerns about the safety of children and the presence of offenders in the community.

Christine Tuohy, a resident living just two houses away from the hostel, voiced her fears: “It should be closed down, I just can’t see why it is on an estate where the houses are all on top of each other and the area is full of children. Any sane person would not have put it here. The inmates may be on a curfew which stops them going out at night, but that doesn’t stop them. The paedophiles watch the children from their windows. When my children were younger I always watched them when they went out to play. All the parents around here are the same – we are all terrified.”

The Multi-Agency Public Protection Agency (MAPPA), which includes police and probation officers, is responsible for monitoring offenders housed at the facility. A spokesperson for Essex MAPPA stated, “This is an appalling offence and, as in any case where a serious offence is committed, a full review of the management of the individual is undertaken. Until the results are known, it will not be possible for Essex Police or Essex Probation to comment.”

The case of Dean Freeman has once again brought to light the ongoing issues surrounding the management of convicted sex offenders and the safety of communities near facilities like Felmores Bail Hostel in Pitsea.