JAMES HOWES FROM LONGTOWN SENTENCED IN SCOTLAND AND CUMBRIA FOR SEX OFFENCES AND GROOMING

In a series of disturbing incidents spanning several years, James Howes, a 32-year-old man from Longtown, has been convicted and sentenced for multiple sexual offences involving minors and breaches of court orders designed to protect children. His criminal activities, which include grooming, deception, and failure to disclose his past convictions, have prompted serious concern from the judiciary and child protection authorities alike.

In March 2015, Howes was sentenced to three years in prison after being found guilty of grooming a mother-of-five and a number of underage girls. The court also declared him a significant danger to the public, emphasizing the risk he poses to children and vulnerable individuals. Following his release, he was ordered to undergo a year of social work supervision, during which he would be closely monitored to prevent further offences.

The court proceedings revealed that Howes, who previously resided on Albert Street in Longtown, had breached a five-year sexual offences prevention order issued in 2012. This order was originally imposed after he was convicted of inciting an 11-year-old girl to engage in sexual activity. The breach involved him using a false surname, 'Martin,' to contact a woman in West Lothian, Scotland, via an internet dating site. Between April and September 2013, Howes moved into her home, participated in outings with her and her children, and failed to disclose his criminal history or his change of address to the authorities.

His deception was uncovered when the woman overheard him using his real name during a phone call with his social worker. Suspicious, she conducted her own online research and discovered that Howes was listed on the Sex Offenders’ Register for attempting to seduce an underage girl he befriended on Facebook. Realizing the danger, she promptly expelled him from her home and reported him to the police.

Following these events, Howes returned to Cumbria while on bail awaiting sentencing for the West Lothian offences. There, he continued his pattern of risky behaviour by befriending another woman and her children, despite being legally barred from unsupervised contact with anyone under 16. In February, at Carlisle Crown Court, he received a two-year sentence for breaching this ban, with Judge Barbara Forrester highlighting her concern that Howes had engaged in grooming behaviour towards the family and the child.

During the Scottish sentencing, Sheriff Peter Hammond condemned Howes for his blatant disregard of court orders. He stated that Howes had not been adequately punished in England for his previous offences and that his actions warranted a custodial sentence. The sheriff emphasized the long-term nature of grooming, which often spans months or years, and noted that Howes’s attempts at concealment and deceit demonstrated a high risk of causing serious harm. As a result, the court imposed a supervised release order for one year post-release, warning Howes that any breach could lead to re-incarceration.

In October 2014, Howes’s manipulative behaviour continued when he met a woman through an online dating site, calling himself James Martin. He stayed with her and her children, the youngest of whom was just four years old, for nearly two months. Despite being banned from unsupervised contact with minors, Howes failed to disclose his criminal record or his status on the sex offenders’ register during their relationship. His past was only uncovered after the woman overheard a phone call in which he mentioned probation, prompting her to confront him. She then expelled him from her home and conducted an online search, discovering press reports and images related to his previous case.

The details of his past crimes include a 2012 incident where Howes sent Facebook messages to an 11-year-old girl, offering to pay her for cleaning his house and engaging in inappropriate communication. He pleaded guilty to inciting sexual activity and was sentenced to a community order, including 100 hours of unpaid work and five years on the sex offenders’ register. Additionally, he was convicted of breaching a sexual offences prevention order and failing to notify police of his address change, despite being on probation and under supervision.

Throughout these proceedings, the courts have recognized Howes’s pattern of deception, grooming, and breach of legal protections designed to safeguard children. His actions have been characterized as a calculated attempt to manipulate and exploit vulnerable individuals, with authorities emphasizing the importance of strict sentencing to prevent further harm. The judiciary’s response underscores the ongoing challenge of managing offenders with a history of sexual misconduct and the necessity of vigilant supervision to protect the community from potential reoffending.