MARTIN FIRTH FROM BRISTOL AND WINSTER CLEARED OF CAUSING CONCERN AT CAKE CONTEST DESPITE PAST SEX OFFENDER STATUS

In a recent development at Chesterfield magistrates’ court, Martin Firth, a 65-year-old man with a troubling past, was found not guilty of a charge that alleged he had spoken to children during a school cake contest held at Winster Primary School.

Firth, who has previously been convicted of possessing and creating indecent images of minors in 2008, was once under a Sexual Offences Prevention Order (SOPO) that prohibited him from communicating with children. Despite this, the prosecution argued that he had breached this order during the event last July.

Bill Taylor, representing the prosecution, claimed that Mr. Firth had allegedly engaged with children at the cake competition, raising concerns about his compliance with the restrictions imposed on him. However, the key witness for the prosecution, Susan Tomlinson, who formerly served as the headteacher at Winster Primary School, testified that she could not be entirely certain whether Mr. Firth had spoken to any children during the event.

Mrs. Tomlinson stated, “I would say he did communicate with children – although I can’t remember,” indicating a lack of definitive evidence.

In response, John Bunting, representing Mr. Firth, argued that the witness’s uncertainty meant that there was no concrete proof of any communication. He emphasized, “Mrs. Tomlinson can’t be sure that Mr. Firth communicated with children. If she can’t be sure then you can’t be sure.”

After considering the evidence, the magistrates concluded that the witness’s inability to confirm any contact meant that there was no reasonable basis to convict Mr. Firth of breaching the order. They stated, “The witness cannot be absolutely sure that you spoke to children. Therefore, no reasonable bench can convict you of this offence.”

Following the verdict, Mr. Firth, who resides on Melbourne Road in Bristol, expressed his gratitude to the magistrates as he left the court, reaffirming his innocence in this matter.

Earlier in January 2013, Mr. Firth had already faced legal consequences for breaching his SOPO. On January 7th, he was sentenced at Chesterfield Magistrates’ Court to a 12-month community order, which included 150 hours of unpaid work and a financial penalty of £650.

His criminal record stems from a December 2008 conviction at Taunton Crown Court, where he was found guilty of making and possessing indecent images of children. As part of his sentence, he received an eight-month prison term and was subjected to an extensive Sexual Offences Prevention Order.

Among the conditions of this order were restrictions on his employment and participation in organizations involving minors under 16, unless supervised by an adult not subject to the order and aware of his conviction.

Despite these restrictions, Mr. Firth was found guilty of breaching the SOPO by playing the organ at churches in Winster, Darley Dale, and South Darley. In an unusual move, police have released a photograph of Mr. Firth to help prevent further breaches and to alert the community to his presence.

This case highlights ongoing concerns regarding the monitoring and management of convicted sex offenders, especially those with restrictions in place to protect minors from potential harm.