IAN FORSYTH FROM LINGDALE CONVICTED OF DECEIVING TEESSIDE WOMAN ABOUT HIS SEX OFFENDER PAST
| Red Rose Database
Lingdale Sexual Abuser
In a case that has raised concerns about hidden pasts and the impact of deception in personal relationships, Ian Forsyth, a 57-year-old man from Lingdale, was found guilty of concealing his previous sex offences from a woman he married in Teesside. The court heard that Forsyth had a criminal history that he deliberately kept from his wife, which ultimately led to a complex and troubling series of events.
Back in October 1993, Forsyth was sentenced to eight years in prison after being convicted of sexual offences against two young girls. Following his release from prison, he was legally required to inform the police of his whereabouts for an indefinite period, a condition that was part of his parole or supervision order. Despite these legal obligations, Forsyth continued to reside in Scotland for some time and later moved to Leicestershire in 2003, where he consistently registered both permanent and temporary addresses with authorities.
However, in 2005, Forsyth’s life took a different turn when he began communicating with a woman from Teesside via the internet. Their online exchanges eventually led to face-to-face meetings, and Forsyth moved into her home in the Saltburn area, along with her teenage son. The relationship progressed, and the couple married in May 2006. For nearly a year, they lived together as husband and wife, until March 2007, when Forsyth moved out of the shared residence.
Throughout this period, the woman was unaware of Forsyth’s criminal past. She later stated that she would not have entered into a relationship with him had she known about his previous convictions. The marriage ended in divorce, and Forsyth’s deception remained undisclosed until his arrest.
In January of this year, Forsyth was detained by police and subsequently appeared in court, where he was brought in in a wheelchair. The charges against him included failing to comply with the legal requirements to register as a sex offender, a breach of the sexual offences legislation. During police interviews, Forsyth admitted to not registering his address, initially claiming ignorance of the registration obligations despite having previously registered multiple times.
His legal representative, Mark McKone, mentioned that Forsyth was dealing with some health issues, referencing a medical report that addressed his current difficulties. The prosecution, led by Sue Jacobs, highlighted the seriousness of Forsyth’s failure to disclose his past, emphasizing the deception involved in his relationship with the woman from Teesside.
Judge Peter Fox QC, the Recorder of Middlesbrough, addressed Forsyth directly, stating, “You have the consequences now of your deception – both to the lady with whom you associated and the police who caught up with you. But in view of your personal circumstances, I am not going to punish you for that. I think the consequences are sufficient.”
As a result, Forsyth was sentenced to a six-month prison term, suspended for two years, along with a two-year period of supervision. This case underscores the ongoing challenges faced by authorities in monitoring sex offenders and the importance of transparency in personal relationships, especially when past offences could have profound implications for those involved.
Back in October 1993, Forsyth was sentenced to eight years in prison after being convicted of sexual offences against two young girls. Following his release from prison, he was legally required to inform the police of his whereabouts for an indefinite period, a condition that was part of his parole or supervision order. Despite these legal obligations, Forsyth continued to reside in Scotland for some time and later moved to Leicestershire in 2003, where he consistently registered both permanent and temporary addresses with authorities.
However, in 2005, Forsyth’s life took a different turn when he began communicating with a woman from Teesside via the internet. Their online exchanges eventually led to face-to-face meetings, and Forsyth moved into her home in the Saltburn area, along with her teenage son. The relationship progressed, and the couple married in May 2006. For nearly a year, they lived together as husband and wife, until March 2007, when Forsyth moved out of the shared residence.
Throughout this period, the woman was unaware of Forsyth’s criminal past. She later stated that she would not have entered into a relationship with him had she known about his previous convictions. The marriage ended in divorce, and Forsyth’s deception remained undisclosed until his arrest.
In January of this year, Forsyth was detained by police and subsequently appeared in court, where he was brought in in a wheelchair. The charges against him included failing to comply with the legal requirements to register as a sex offender, a breach of the sexual offences legislation. During police interviews, Forsyth admitted to not registering his address, initially claiming ignorance of the registration obligations despite having previously registered multiple times.
His legal representative, Mark McKone, mentioned that Forsyth was dealing with some health issues, referencing a medical report that addressed his current difficulties. The prosecution, led by Sue Jacobs, highlighted the seriousness of Forsyth’s failure to disclose his past, emphasizing the deception involved in his relationship with the woman from Teesside.
Judge Peter Fox QC, the Recorder of Middlesbrough, addressed Forsyth directly, stating, “You have the consequences now of your deception – both to the lady with whom you associated and the police who caught up with you. But in view of your personal circumstances, I am not going to punish you for that. I think the consequences are sufficient.”
As a result, Forsyth was sentenced to a six-month prison term, suspended for two years, along with a two-year period of supervision. This case underscores the ongoing challenges faced by authorities in monitoring sex offenders and the importance of transparency in personal relationships, especially when past offences could have profound implications for those involved.