LEOMINSTER SEX OFFENDER MELVYN VAUGHAN SENTENCED TO JAIL FOR ABUSE AND PORNOGRAPHY OFFENSES

In October 2015, a disturbing case involving Melvyn Vaughan, a 65-year-old man from Leominster, came to a tragic conclusion as he was sentenced to prison for a series of heinous sex offences. Vaughan, who has struggled with alcoholism for years, was found guilty of multiple charges related to the exploitation and abuse of vulnerable young girls, as well as possessing explicit and extreme pornography.

According to reports presented at Worcester Crown Court, Vaughan’s actions have made him a widely despised figure within the community. His reputation has been severely tarnished, with residents and victims alike expressing their outrage. The court heard that Vaughan had been subjected to acts of hostility, including having filth thrown at him, verbal abuse, and even vandalism targeting his mobility scooter, which was vandalized with slashed tires.

Vaughan’s background as a former roofer and scaffolder did little to mitigate the severity of his crimes. His barrister, Jonathan Stanniland, highlighted Vaughan’s ongoing health issues, which are compounded by his need to continue drinking alcohol for medical reasons. Stanniland explained that Vaughan’s body has become so dependent on alcohol that any sudden cessation could result in immediate life-threatening health complications. The lawyer further noted that Vaughan is likely in the final years of his life due to his deteriorating health.

During the court proceedings, Vaughan pleaded guilty to six serious sex offences. These included inciting young girls into pornography and possessing extreme pornographic images, which depicted a woman in her twenties and Vaughan’s own dog. The prosecution, led by Phillip Bradley, detailed Vaughan’s troubling history of behavior in the Leominster area, particularly around a park known locally as the Grange, where Vaughan was often seen riding his mobility scooter.

It was revealed that Vaughan had a pattern of luring vulnerable girls back to his residence on Ridgemoor Road. He would ask them for items of their underwear in exchange for alcohol, a tactic that demonstrated his predatory behavior. Police had previously issued warnings to Vaughan in March 2014 regarding his conduct. Despite these warnings, two months later, two girls aged 15 and 16, accompanied by their boyfriends, visited Vaughan’s home at night seeking money to buy drinks. Vaughan reportedly locked the boyfriends out and, inside the house, offered the girls £20 in exchange for allowing him to take explicit photographs of their private parts. The girls complied, but the situation escalated when one of them became upset, leading to an argument outside and a physical altercation involving Vaughan and one of the boys.

Police subsequently searched Vaughan’s home and discovered the illicit images stored on an Olympus digital camera. Among the findings was a memory card dating back to 2012, containing pornographic images of two women in their twenties, both of whom were drug addicts. Disturbingly, one of these images included Vaughan’s own dog, further illustrating the disturbing nature of his collection.

Vaughan admitted to police that he believed the girls’ requests for money were an opportunity for him to obtain sexual gratification, rationalizing his actions as a means of getting something out of the situation. Despite his extensive criminal history, which includes 31 previous convictions dating back to 1964, he had no prior convictions for sexual offences.

Judge Michael Cullum, presiding over the case, addressed Vaughan as he entered court on his mobility scooter. The judge acknowledged Vaughan’s serious health issues, including problems with his heart and kidneys, which are partly attributable to his longstanding alcoholism. The judge emphasized that incarceration would be particularly challenging for Vaughan, but ultimately, it was necessary to protect the public and uphold justice. Vaughan was sentenced to two years in prison and was also issued a sexual harm prevention order that will remain in effect for ten years, aiming to prevent any future offences and protect potential victims.