JOHN BLOTT FROM NEW MARSKE: EX-POLICEMAN AND RAPIST ON SEX OFFENDERS' ORDER IN CLEVELAND

In June 2008, a former police officer and professional footballer from New Marske, John Blott, was subjected to a stringent sexual offences prevention order following his release from prison and ongoing concerns about his risk to young women. Blott, who previously served as a police constable in Middlesbrough and played as a goalkeeper for Manchester City, was convicted a decade earlier for the rape of two teenage girls. Despite his incarceration, authorities remain vigilant, citing his failure to fully disclose his relationship with a Japanese student as a breach of his licence conditions.

Blott, now 43 years old, was described as having shown no remorse or insight into the gravity of his past actions. As a result, the court imposed a 10-year order that restricts him from being alone with any female who has not been made aware of his criminal history. Additionally, the order prohibits him from coaching females unless they are informed of his convictions, aiming to prevent any potential reoffending or situations that could lead to exploitation.

The police in Cleveland only discovered Blott’s relationship with Miss Sakamoto after her flatmates searched for his name online and alerted authorities. Despite being informed of his criminal background, Miss Sakamoto expressed her unwavering affection for Blott, stating to Teesside Magistrates Court that she was looking forward to spending her life with him and did not expect him to reveal everything about his past. She described him as a polite and gentlemanly individual, akin to a typical Japanese gentleman.

District Judge Roger Elsey questioned her about her knowledge of Blott’s history, asking if learning about his past had changed her perception of him. Her response indicated her continued trust and affection. Blott’s legal representative, Harvey Murray, argued that the relationship was genuine and that love was evident between the two, despite Blott’s criminal record.

Blott’s history of inappropriate conduct extended beyond his prison sentence. Two months after his release in December 2004, he was banned from a Newcastle gym following complaints from female members who felt uncomfortable around him. Furthermore, during a police investigation into the theft of his bicycle in October 2006, an officer testified that Blott had made her feel uneasy during the inquiry.

Judge Elsey emphasized that Blott demonstrated a lack of understanding regarding the conditions of his licence, indicating that he did not fully grasp the importance of adhering to restrictions designed to protect the public. A Cleveland Police spokeswoman confirmed that a sexual offences protection order was issued to manage Blott’s behaviour more closely, supplementing his lifetime registration on the sex offenders’ register. The current order, which is set to expire on July 31, 2018, places strict limitations on his interactions with females.

Blott’s criminal offences include a series of disturbing incidents. His first known victim was a 16-year-old college student he met in August 1993. He arranged a date, lured her to his home under the pretense of retrieving something, and then forcibly raped her twice inside his residence. In November 1994, he indecently assaulted a 22-year-old Inland Revenue worker outside Middlesbrough town hall, after engaging her in conversation and then driving her to his home. There, he showed her photographs of himself with topless women, fondled her, and repeatedly threatened to rape her. When she resisted, Blott masturbated in front of her and watched football afterward.

His second rape occurred in March 1995, when he attacked an 18-year-old garage receptionist twice in his living room, leaving her feeling stunned and disgusted. Blott, who has boasted about his attractiveness and claimed to have been involved with hundreds of women during his decade with the Cleveland police, expressed confidence in his appeal, stating, “In uniform they seem to throw themselves at me. I could not count the number of girls I have gone out with. I must have slept with at least 300, so I’m hardly sex-starved.” His history of offending and his attitude continue to raise serious concerns about his potential threat to the community in New Marske and beyond.