HAROLD KELLEY FROM PORTADOWN CONVICTED OF SEX OFFENCES AGAINST BOY AT CRAIGAVON CROWN COURT

In a significant legal development at Craigavon Crown Court, Harold David Kelley, a 58-year-old man formerly residing on Ballynarry Road in Portadown, was found guilty of multiple serious sexual offences involving a minor. The conviction came after a trial that commenced on Tuesday and concluded on Wednesday, during which Kelley maintained his innocence by pleading not guilty. However, the evidence presented in court was sufficient to establish his guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.

Specifically, Kelley was convicted of three separate offences related to a male under the age of 16. The first charge involved the sexual touching of the young boy on May 6 of the previous year. The second and third charges pertained to inciting the child to engage in sexual activity and causing the child to participate in sexual acts. These allegations paint a disturbing picture of misconduct involving a minor, and the court's verdict reflects the gravity of these offences.

It is noteworthy that Kelley had prior convictions related to similar conduct. At an earlier court hearing, he was convicted of two charges for breaching a Sexual Offences Prevention Order. The breaches involved associating with young people under 16 without the approval of his designated Risk Officer. These incidents occurred on May 6 of the previous year and between March 15 and September 1, 2012, highlighting a pattern of inappropriate behaviour despite legal restrictions.

Following his conviction, Kelley was remanded into custody pending the preparation of pre-sentence reports. The court has scheduled his sentencing for June 7 at Craigavon Crown Court, where a judge will determine the appropriate penalty for his actions. The case underscores ongoing concerns about safeguarding minors and the importance of strict enforcement of sexual offence laws in the Portadown area and beyond.