DEREK HARTLEY FROM CHEADLE SENTENCED AFTER SEX OFFENCES AND VICTIM LEFT TERRIFIED WHEN HE WAS ON BAIL

In November 2009, a victim of paedophile Derek Hartley, of Cheadle, was left terrified to leave her home after her attacker was released on bail for over a year. Her family is now calling for legislative changes. Hartley, 40, was initially sentenced in February 2008 to 15 months in prison for sex offences involving teenage girls. Despite police stating he 'preyed on vulnerable young girls,' he was released on bail shortly after his conviction. Another victim, who had seen Hartley featured in the media for his sex offences, reported her own experience to the police in April 2008. Yet, six months later, Hartley was still free on bail. It was only on the Thursday after his sentencing that he was re-incarcerated, receiving a 13-year prison sentence at Manchester Crown Court after pleading guilty to the rape of a child and three counts of indecent assault. Hartley is now required to register as a sex offender for life. The victim’s grandmother, who remains anonymous for legal reasons, expressed her frustration, saying, "We were with her all the time and she was frightened to go out. If he had been remanded, we would have all felt a lot better. Even though he was monitored, he was walking the streets. It made it so much worse for her—I don’t know how she would have felt if she had seen him. Because it was an archive case, he couldn’t be held— and we would like to see that changed. I feel absolute hatred for this man—he is horrible. He showed no remorse in court. The family is devastated but it has brought us closer together. The police and the CPS tried their best, but were told they couldn’t remand him." A CPS spokesperson confirmed Hartley was released from prison on October 4, 2008, and charged three days later. They explained, "As part of the terms of his release, Hartley was placed under strict supervision and had to comply with several conditions. Because of the circumstances and noting that Hartley had neither breached bail conditions, interfered with witnesses, nor committed further offences while on bail, police and the CPS agreed there were not substantial grounds to oppose bail in accordance with the Bail Act 1976. Throughout the case, he attended all hearings and there is no evidence he interfered with witnesses or committed additional crimes." In February 2008, Hartley was sentenced for sexual offences against three girls. He was a worker at a secondary school in South Manchester, starting in October 2005, and pleaded guilty to two counts of abuse of trust for causing and inciting sexual activity with a girl aged 13 to 17, as well as sexual assault on a girl under 16. Hartley received a 15-month jail sentence, and was ordered to sign the Sex Offenders’ Register for 10 years, along with a ban from working with children. Detective Constable David Fox from the Public Protection Investigation Unit stated, "This man clearly abused his position of trust and should have known better. He preyed on vulnerable young girls—his behavior was inappropriate and unacceptable. I hope this sentence sends a clear message that we will not tolerate the sexual exploitation of children and will ensure offenders are brought to justice."