DERBY SEX OFFENDER KARL MANNING JAILED FOR BREACHING ORDER AT NEW YEAR'S EVE PARTY

In June 2014, Karl Manning, a convicted sex offender from Derby, was sentenced to 10 months in prison for violating a sexual offences prevention order. Manning, who has a prior conviction for sexually assaulting a girl under 16 and was sentenced to five years in 2011, was found to have breached the order on two separate occasions within the past year.

Derby Crown Court was informed that Manning, of Beaufort Street, Chaddesden, spent time in the same room as children at two different events—an emotional New Year’s Eve party and a Sunday lunch gathering—without the awareness of their parents about his previous conviction.

The court heard that during the New Year’s Eve party, Manning was present in the kitchen area along with two girls aged eight and 11. Prosecutor Christopher Gabbitas explained, “At the party, he sat in the kitchen and at the address were two children under the age of 16—eight and 11. He remained in the kitchen the whole time, and the children came in and out to get food, but there was no other contact.” Manning’s attendance was for about an hour.

The second incident involved a Sunday lunch gathering, where the same children arrived later in the day and stayed for approximately two to three hours. Mr. Gabbitas noted, “The children had been asking the adults for money for their holiday, and he gave them money for ice creams.”

Manning pleaded guilty to two breaches of the sexual offences prevention order. His solicitor, Laura Pitman, stated, “These weren’t deliberate flagrant breaches by him. He found himself in a situation which he dealt with inappropriately—he should have walked out. There’s no suggestion he has ever done anything inappropriate or sought out the children’s company.”

Ms. Pitman explained that Manning attended the events believing there would only be adults present and was unaware children would be there. She added, “I have explained to him what he is required to do in the future. For example, if he walks into a party and children are present, he should either leave immediately or inform the parents about his offending history.”