JOHN PHELPS SHOCKS WEEKS AFTER SEX OFFENCES CONVICTION IN POOLE AND WEYMOUTH

In a disturbing development, John Phelps, a man with a long history of sexual offences, was recently caught in Weymouth in the company of two teenage girls, breaching a court order that strictly prohibited him from associating with females under the age of 18. This incident occurred on December 19, 2017, and has raised serious concerns given Phelps's criminal background and the restrictions placed upon him.

John Phelps, aged 65 and residing on Great George Street in Weymouth, was previously convicted of heinous crimes involving minors. In 2008, he was found guilty at Bournemouth Crown Court of multiple serious offences, including rape, 13 counts of indecent assault, and three charges of gross indecency. The court heard that one of his victims was only four years old when the abuse began, highlighting the severity and brutality of his crimes.

Following his conviction, Phelps was sentenced to a lengthy prison term and was subjected to an indefinite ban from working with children. Additionally, he was prohibited from being in the company of any female under the age of 18, a restriction designed to protect minors from potential harm given his past offenses.

Despite these strict legal restrictions, Phelps was observed in Weymouth by a concerned individual who recognized him and was aware of his criminal history. The witness saw Phelps engaging in conversation with two teenage girls inside Wilkinsons, a retail store in Weymouth. The observer, who knew Phelps's background, was alarmed when she overheard him asking one of the girls about her whereabouts, her expected time to return home, and whether her mother would be upset if she arrived home late. Out of concern, she took a photograph of the interaction to provide evidence.

During the subsequent police investigation, one of the girls, aged 16, provided a statement indicating that she had gone to the shop with a friend. She explained that her friend initiated a conversation with a man she did not know, who was apparently a regular visitor to her workplace. The girl described the man as someone her friend knew and recognized, and she recalled him talking about buying makeup for his granddaughter for Christmas before saying goodbye. The girl emphasized that the man appeared to be familiar to her friend, which was why she did not find the interaction unusual.

In court, Phelps's defense argued that the conversation was innocent and taken out of context. Lee Turner, prosecuting, stated that someone familiar with Phelps and aware of his past had observed the interaction and raised concerns. Turner highlighted that the individual who reported the incident was worried about the nature of the questions Phelps was asking, which seemed inappropriate given his history.

Kenneth Sharpe, representing Phelps, attempted to downplay the incident, suggesting that Phelps could not recall the details of the conversation and that overheard snippets could be misinterpreted. He argued that the interaction was a casual, superficial exchange typical of social politeness in a supermarket during the Christmas season and did not constitute a breach of the court order.

However, a probation officer involved in Phelps's supervision confirmed that he had been compliant with the terms of his probation until the incident. The officer noted that Phelps had contacted the probation service afterward to express his concerns but maintained that there had been no prior issues or violations. The officer also stated that Phelps remained in denial about his initial offending, which complicated efforts to rehabilitate him.

Ultimately, the court sentenced Phelps to eight months in jail, suspended for two years. He was also ordered to pay a victim surcharge of £200 along with court costs. This case underscores the ongoing challenges in monitoring and managing individuals with a history of sexual offences, especially when they breach court-imposed restrictions and are seen in the company of minors in public spaces.