JOHN KAY FROM REDCAR AND STOCKTON ESCAPES JAIL DESPITE BREACHING SEX OFFENDER ORDERS

In a case that has raised concerns about the enforcement of restrictions on convicted sex offenders, John Kay, a known paedophile from Redcar and Stockton, was spared a prison sentence despite repeatedly violating court orders designed to restrict his interactions with minors and control his behavior.

Kay, aged 51, appeared before Teesside Crown Court where he was handed a community order that included three years of supervision and participation in a sex offenders' group program. The presiding judge, Judge Anthony Briggs, expressed serious concern about Kay’s conduct, stating, "Things are getting to a dangerous stage." The court was made aware that Kay had been warned about the severity of potential jail time should he breach the restrictions again.

Previously, Kay had been subjected to an indefinite ban from owning a camera, taking or possessing photographs, and was ordered to stay away from anyone under the age of 18. Despite these restrictions, he was arrested just a week after the order was issued when police found him in possession of a packet of photographs, three of which depicted children in the background. These images were taken during day trips to Stockton’s International Riverside Festival, Whitby, and a Blues festival in County Durham. The police search of his vehicle uncovered the photographs, raising serious concerns about his compliance with the court’s orders.

During the hearing, Nigel Soppitt, representing Kay, explained that the photographs were taken of a new girlfriend during outings and that the children appeared unintentionally in the background. Soppitt emphasized that Kay had taken the camera to these festivals to preserve memories of the events, acknowledging that he should not have done so. He also highlighted Kay’s understanding of the court’s orders, which carry the potential for a five-year prison sentence if breached, and noted the stark choice faced by the court—imprisonment without supervision or the community-based sentence being imposed.

Kay’s criminal history is extensive. In 1997, he was sentenced to 12 years in prison for raping an eight-year-old girl and for coercing underage prostitutes in Middlesbrough to pose for photographs while wearing silk scarves. His sentence was later reduced to ten years on appeal. He was released in 2002, but his parole was revoked due to inappropriate behavior. More recently, in June of this year, Kay was issued an interim sexual prevention order after allegations surfaced that he attempted to groom two teenage girls he met in Chop Gate, North Yorkshire. This order was made indefinite in August, but Kay breached it within a day by purchasing a camera from a charity shop.

Kay, a retired computer technician residing on Bridge Street in Stockton and formerly of Newcomen Terrace in Redcar, pleaded guilty to possessing images of children. The court was told that his actions demonstrated a clear disregard for the restrictions placed upon him. Judge Briggs underscored the seriousness of breaching such orders, warning that violations can lead to lengthy custodial sentences. Despite the gravity of the breaches, Kay was ultimately spared jail time, though he remains under strict supervision and monitoring as part of his community order.