JASON TRASK: MAIDSTONE AND STROOD PAEDOPHILE SENT BACK TO PRISON FOR REPEATED OFFENSES

On November 22, 2011, the disturbing case of Jason Trask, a notorious sex offender with a long history of criminality, took a new turn as he was once again placed behind bars for his continued predatory behavior. Trask, aged 63 and residing in a hostel in Strood, with connections to Canterbury and originally from Maidstone, was caught in a police sting after he made a blatant attempt to attract young victims by writing his telephone number on the wall of a public toilet in Maidstone town centre.

His actions did not go unnoticed, and law enforcement officials swiftly responded. Trask’s arrest was the culmination of ongoing efforts to monitor his activities, especially given his extensive criminal record. The police had previously identified him as a significant risk to children, and his latest offense confirmed these fears. The court proceedings took place at Maidstone Crown Court, where Judge Philip Statman presided over the case.

During the sentencing, the judge decided against imposing an indeterminate sentence, which could have been used to further restrict his freedom indefinitely, opting instead for a four-year jail term with an additional two years of extended licence. Judge Statman addressed Trask directly, emphasizing the severity of his criminal history and the danger he posed. He stated, “You have a horrendous record of criminality. I am satisfied you constitute a significant risk of serious harm to children.”

Trask, who was living on Tonbridge Road in Maidstone at the time of his arrest, had previously been deported from Holland earlier that year after serving a six-year prison sentence for possessing indecent images of children. Despite his deportation, he failed to comply with the legal requirement to register as a sex offender upon his return to the UK. His failure to adhere to these conditions led to further legal action.

His voluntary surrender came in March after his details appeared on a Most Wanted website and the case was featured in a national newspaper, raising public awareness. Prosecutor Stephen Clayton highlighted that Trask was explicitly banned from making contact with children, yet in June, he defied this restriction by writing his phone number on a toilet wall in the Chequers Centre, accompanied by the message: “Good — ———. Call or text me.”

Police recognized the number and responded by posing as a 15-year-old schoolboy in online communications. This led to a series of lewd text messages and phone conversations. Trask eventually arranged to meet the supposed minor by the river behind Maidstone Crown Court, but officers arrested him before the meeting could take place.

Trask’s criminal history is extensive, with 18 convictions for 44 offences, 32 of which are sexual in nature, dating back over four decades to when he was just 17. His most severe sentence was a 10-year term handed down in 1982. Described as a prolific sex offender, Trask’s criminal activities span both the UK and abroad. His name will remain on the sex offenders’ register for life, and he is permanently banned from working with children. Additionally, he is prohibited from foreign travel for five years.

In a related and even more disturbing chapter of his criminal career, Trask was involved in running a child sex ring from prison in 1996. While incarcerated, he sent over 200 coded letters to paedophiles across the country, plotting the abduction and abuse of children. In one particularly chilling message, he referenced Prince William and Prince Harry, whose photographs he kept in his cell, describing them as his “ultimate fantasy kidnapping.”

Remarkably, Trask managed to continue his illicit activities for two years from Maidstone prison in Kent, exploiting insufficient resources to inspect his mail. Using coded language, he detailed his sexual cravings and recruited more than 30 paedophiles into his network. He also established links with a so-called “sex club” that falsely claimed to be “the Lewis Carroll Society,” named after the author of Alice in Wonderland.

His disturbing correspondence included messages like, “I’ll be out soon so we can **** the dark-haired girl together,” directed at one of his recruits. His illicit operations were only halted when an inmate at Swinfen Hall Young Offenders Institute in Staffordshire, disgusted by one of his letters, reported him to authorities.

Officials from Maidstone confirmed that during his time in prison, Trask’s mail was not closely scrutinized, allowing him to continue his predatory schemes. A senior officer remarked, “No-one had any idea of what Trask was doing as his mail wasn’t closely examined. Paedophiles often receive privileges inside prison because authorities believe that treating them nicely will prevent reoffending. But individuals like Trask will never change.”

Trask’s criminal record is extensive, including a conviction in 1993 for assaulting four boys, and he had previously served a three-year sentence for other paedophile offences. His history underscores a pattern of repeated offending and a persistent threat to the safety of children in both local and international contexts.