GEORGE NEAUM FROM GREAT BARFORD SUBJECT TO HISTORIC SEXUAL HARM ORDER IN BEDFORDSHIRE

In December 2008, a significant legal development took place in Bedfordshire involving a man named Geoffrey Robert Neaum, a former teacher from Great Barford. Neaum was subjected to the county's first-ever Risk of Sexual Harm Order, a legal measure designed to restrict his interactions with minors following serious allegations of inappropriate behavior.

Neaum admitted to engaging in disturbing conduct involving two underage boys. Specifically, he acknowledged exposing the minors to the covers of pornographic DVDs, an act that raised alarm among authorities and the community. Additionally, he made sexual overtures to one of the boys through text messaging, further compounding concerns about his conduct. The messages included a provocative inquiry: “Hi. Do you like black on black? I am in the sex shop,” which was deemed inappropriate and indicative of his intentions.

Due to legal restrictions under Section 11 of the Contempt of Court Act (1981), the identities of the two boys involved cannot be disclosed publicly. The court proceedings revealed that in July, Neaum's inappropriate behavior extended to exposing the boys to explicit material, which contributed to the court's decision to impose strict conditions on his future conduct.

As part of the court's ruling, Neaum, aged 57, is now under a three-year order that police describe as “a bit like an Asbo for potential sex offenders.” This order prohibits him from being alone with anyone under the age of 18 in any location, unless explicitly permitted. It also bans him from communicating with minors without the prior approval of their parents or guardians. Furthermore, Neaum is barred from engaging in any paid or unpaid work that involves contact with children, a measure intended to prevent any further risk of harm.

The conditions of the order are strict, and any breach could lead to criminal charges, with potential imprisonment for up to five years. The court also addressed the issue of his residential address, which is located on High Street, Great Barford. Initially, Neaum’s defense sought to keep his home address confidential, citing fears of attack from the community. However, Bedfordshire on Sunday challenged this request and successfully argued for the publication of his address, emphasizing the importance of transparency and public awareness.

During the hearing, Emma Gargetter, representing Neaum, argued that the address should remain private due to concerns from Mrs. Neaum about possible retaliation. Nonetheless, District Judge Nicholas Leigh-Smith dismissed this argument, stating, “It would be wrong if I were to try to fetter the hands of the press by making such a restriction.” The judge emphasized the importance of open reporting and transparency in such cases.

Interestingly, Neaum will not be registered as a sex offender, a decision that court officials described as “a legal anomaly.” The order was initiated by Bedfordshire Police’s Sex Offenders’ management team, and Neaum attended the court hearing voluntarily. DCI Simon Lansbury, head of the Public Protection Unit for Bedfordshire Police, commented on the case, saying, “This is the first order of its kind in Bedfordshire and it is very unusual to obtain such an order on an unconvicted person. It reflects the hard work of the Child Abuse Investigation Unit, who gathered a large amount of information in a relatively short period so that the order was uncontested at court. The parents of the children involved acted responsibly by reporting Neaum’s behavior, and their confidence in the police and their own actions has helped prevent potentially serious sexual harm to their children.”