PAUL HINE FROM BISHOP’S STORTFORD AND SAWBRIDGEWORTH JAILED FOR SEX OFFENCES AND COURT ORDER BREACHES

In a serious case that highlights ongoing concerns about sexual misconduct and non-compliance with court orders, Paul Hine, a man originally from Bishop’s Stortford and later residing in Sawbridgeworth, has been sentenced to prison for multiple violations of court-imposed restrictions and for engaging in inappropriate behavior at public swimming facilities.

Hine’s criminal history is extensive. In September 2007, he was convicted of several serious offenses, including outraging public decency, downloading indecent images of children, and possessing indecent photographs. As part of his sentence, he was ordered to serve a three-year community rehabilitation order. Additionally, he was subjected to a five-year Sexual Offences Prevention Order (SOPO) and an anti-social behaviour order (ASBO), which were intended to restrict his conduct and prevent further offenses.

Despite these measures, Hine continued to breach court directives. Most recently, at Chelmsford Crown Court on Wednesday, May 2, he pleaded guilty to two counts of failing to comply with sex offender notification requirements. These violations involved traveling abroad on February 11 of this year without notifying authorities and failing to register an additional address, which was the residence of a woman he was seeing. These breaches are considered serious violations of the conditions set forth in his previous court orders.

The court proceedings also revealed disturbing details about Hine’s activities in May 2011. Prosecutor Samantha Lowther explained that Hine was invited by a woman he met online to attend her son’s swimming lesson at a pool in Harlow. During this visit, children were seen changing at the poolside, and the prosecutor described the children as being