LUKE ATHERTON'S CRIMINAL REIGN IN BRECHIN AND EXETER: SEX OFFENDER'S SHOCKING HISTORY AND RECENT JAIL SENTENCE

In a series of disturbing incidents spanning several years, Luke Atherton, a known sex offender with a long and troubling criminal record, has once again found himself at the center of legal proceedings in the UK. His latest actions, which involved breaching court orders and engaging in inappropriate conduct around children, have led to his imprisonment and ongoing restrictions on his interactions with minors.

Originally from Brechin, Atherton has a history that dates back to his teenage years, with convictions in Scotland, Cheltenham, and Plymouth. His criminal record includes multiple convictions for sexual offenses involving minors, and he has been subject to a Sexual Offences Prevention Order (SOPO) that strictly prohibits any contact with girls under the age of 16. Despite these legal restrictions, Atherton's recent behavior has raised serious concerns among authorities and the community.

In June 2019, while residing in Exeter, Atherton was observed engaging in inappropriate conversations with children in his front garden. Specifically, he was seen talking to a brother and sister aged seven and eight, who were playing on a slide he had placed in his yard. The incident escalated when their father, alarmed by Atherton's contact with his children and aware of Atherton's criminal background, went to his home and forcibly kicked in the door to confront him. This confrontation prompted Atherton to call the police, claiming that his door had been vandalized. The Exeter Crown Court heard that Atherton had previously been caught talking to children in his garden, with neighbors noting that children had been seen playing on his slide multiple times.

During the court proceedings, Judge Timothy Rose emphasized the seriousness of Atherton's breach of the SOPO, sentencing him to eight months in prison. The judge highlighted that this was Atherton's third breach of the order, which was meant to protect minors from his influence. The judge expressed concern over Atherton's high risk of causing harm, noting that he had called the police himself during the incident, which involved his partner present at the scene. The judge remarked that it was unclear whether Atherton's actions were due to stupidity or an attempt to groom children, but stressed the gravity of the breach.

Earlier in his criminal career, Atherton's convictions included a 2010 conviction in Scotland for underage sex, and subsequent convictions in Cheltenham in 2011 and 2015 for sexual activity with minors aged 14 to 16. His pattern of offending continued when he was living in Plymouth, where he broke the SOPO twice while working at a fairground. Witnesses reported seeing him lifting girls onto rides and loitering near a primary school in Exeter, behaviors that further underscored his ongoing risk to children.

In a separate incident in March 2014, Atherton was caught outside a school in Exeter, defying his court orders. He was on the sex offenders’ register after being jailed for similar offenses in Scotland and Cheltenham. At that time, he was living in Plymouth but had started a relationship with a mother in Exeter, which led to further breaches of his SOPO. Teachers at the school observed the girl he was with appearing uncomfortable, raising alarms about his presence near children. The mother ended her relationship with Atherton once police and social services disclosed his criminal history.

His criminal record also includes a 2010 conviction for unlawful sexual intercourse at Forfar Sheriff’s Court, and a 2011 conviction in Gloucester Crown Court for sexual activity with a minor. Atherton was released from prison in 2012 and began a relationship with a woman in Exeter, which resulted in him being seen waiting outside her children’s school in 2013. This behavior prompted further legal action, and he was jailed again for eight months after admitting to breaching his SOPO in Exeter Crown Court.

Most recently, in November 2010, Atherton was sentenced to six months in a young offenders’ institution after admitting to unlawful sex with a 14-year-old girl in Brechin. The court also placed him on the sex offenders’ register for seven years. The case involved a false rape allegation made by the girl, which was later clarified as a case of grooming and unlawful sexual activity. The judge emphasized the importance of laws designed to protect minors and highlighted the seriousness of Atherton’s repeated offenses.

Throughout his criminal history, Luke Atherton has demonstrated a pattern of behavior that continues to pose a significant threat to children. His latest incarceration underscores the ongoing challenges faced by authorities in managing high-risk offenders and protecting vulnerable minors from potential harm.