JOHN FARRAR'S BRUTAL CRIMES IN BRADFORD: CHILD RAPIST BREACHES ORDER AND FACES PRISON

In a serious development at Bradford Crown Court, John Farrar, a 40-year-old man with a long and troubling history of sexual offenses, was sentenced to 18 months in prison after admitting to breaching a court order designed to prevent him from having contact with minors under the age of 16.

Farrar, who previously resided at Newcastle House in Bradford, has a criminal record that stretches back over two decades. His first known conviction dates back to 1980, and by 1987, at the age of 18, he had been convicted of gross indecency with a child. Following this conviction, he was initially placed on probation, which was later replaced with a four-month period of youth custody.

The severity of Farrar’s criminal history escalated in 1998 when he was sentenced to eight years in prison for multiple serious offenses. These included three counts of rape, three counts of indecent assault on a female under 14, and gross indecency with a child. As a result of these convictions, he was registered as a sex offender for life, a designation that underscores the gravity of his crimes.

Upon his release from prison, Farrar was subject to strict conditions under a license, which mandated his residence at the Elm Bank bail hostel in Cleckheaton. Despite these restrictions, he continued to pose a risk. In March 2006, he was placed under an interim Sexual Offences Prevention Order (SOPO), which imposed several prohibitions, including a ban on seeking the company of anyone under 16 and being in a house with a minor of that age.

Farrar’s violations of these orders became evident in July 2007 when he was convicted of three breaches of the interim SOPO, resulting in a three-year prison sentence. However, the legal measures to monitor and restrict his movements did not end there.

Most recently, Farrar pleaded guilty to breaching a full SOPO, which had replaced the interim order. This order explicitly prohibited him from being in the company of children under 16 or communicating with them. Police surveillance was initiated in November of the previous year after officers observed Farrar leaving the bail hostel early in the morning on more than 20 occasions and traveling to a house in Keighley.

During the surveillance, Farrar was seen arriving at the house at approximately 6:50 am, and a 12-year-old girl was observed leaving the residence at around 8:25 am. When questioned, Farrar claimed he had only seen the girl for a brief moment, estimating the encounter lasted no more than two minutes. Despite his assertions, the evidence was clear enough for police to charge him with breaching the court order.

Farrar’s license was revoked, and he was taken into custody. His earliest possible release date was set for November 6 of this year. During the court proceedings, Adam Walker, representing Farrar, argued that there had been no sexual misconduct and that the encounter with the girl was purely accidental.

Judge Alastair McCallum sentenced Farrar to 18 months in prison, emphasizing that the sentence was structured to coincide with his potential release date, pending any further legal developments. The case highlights the ongoing challenges faced by authorities in monitoring and managing individuals with a history of sexual offenses, especially those who continue to breach court-imposed restrictions in Bradford and surrounding areas.