GLENN RICHARDS FROM WOTTON-UNDER-EDGE SENTENCED FOR SEX OFFENCES AND BREACHES OF COURT ORDERS

In March 2017, Glenn Richards, a 39-year-old resident of Pitman Place in Wotton-under-Edge, was sentenced to a prison term of four and a half years after being found guilty of breaching his Sexual Offences Prevention Order. The court's decision came after evidence showed that Richards had committed four separate violations of the court-mandated restrictions, including engaging in contact with a child under the age of 16 and failing to provide internet-enabled devices for inspection. Richards' criminal history is extensive; he was convicted in 2010 of engaging in sexual activity with an underage girl and grooming three other young individuals. As a result of this conviction, he was placed under a Sexual Offences Prevention Order, which was intended to monitor and restrict his activities to protect vulnerable minors.

Officers involved in the case, PC Chris Scott and DS Paul Howell, expressed their satisfaction with the court's ruling. PC Scott emphasized the importance of strict enforcement, stating, “Today’s sentence demonstrates how seriously we take breaches of these orders and underscores the necessity of closely monitoring offenders once they are released. The restrictions are in place to safeguard some of the most vulnerable members of our society, and we are pleased that the courts concur with this view — these individuals must be protected.”

Prior incidents involving Richards include a February 2015 case where he was jailed for ten months after refusing police access to his computer equipment during a routine visit. Richards, then aged 36, admitted to breaching his prevention order by denying police access to his devices, which were prohibited from internet connectivity under the terms of his order. The court heard that Richards had previously been convicted of sexual activity with a 16-year-old girl in 2010 and had been subjected to multiple restrictions since then. His defense argued that Richards suffers from Asperger’s Syndrome, which affected his reactions during police visits, but the court, through Recorder Paul Grumbar, highlighted that Richards was an intelligent man aware of his obligations and that his repeated breaches posed a high risk to the public.

In January 2013, Richards was again remanded into custody after breaching his order by driving two teenage girls, aged 14 and 15, to a KFC restaurant in Bristol and a pub in Gloucester. Richards, then aged 34, had previously served a three-year sentence for sexual offenses committed in 2010 and had been released on license in February 2011. His subsequent breach occurred within five weeks of his release, leading to a 40-week suspended sentence and 18 months of supervision. The court acknowledged that Richards had not intended to commit any improper acts but recognized his awareness of the restrictions and his breach of them.

Most recently, in September 2012, Richards was remanded again after being accused of breaching his sexual offences prevention order by being in the company of two teenage girls and accessing prohibited websites. He appeared at Cheltenham Magistrates’ Court and later at Stroud Magistrates’ Court, where he was remanded in custody pending further hearings. Richards had previously admitted to sleeping with an underage girl and grooming three other minors in April 2010, which resulted in a three-year prison sentence. His activities included establishing contact via social networking sites such as Facebook and MSN Messenger, where he engaged in manipulative and inappropriate behavior with vulnerable young girls. Richards, who was described as highly computer-literate, exploited their low self-esteem and emotional vulnerabilities, often making suggestive comments, kissing, and cuddling them, and even threatening suicide when conflicts arose.

Throughout his criminal history, Richards has demonstrated a pattern of manipulative behavior aimed at young, impressionable girls. His actions have repeatedly violated court orders designed to prevent such conduct, leading to multiple incarcerations and ongoing monitoring. His case underscores the persistent challenges law enforcement faces in managing convicted sex offenders and the importance of rigorous enforcement of protective orders to prevent further harm to minors.