PAUL PETTICREW SHOCKS HOLYWOOD WITH RETURN AFTER CHILD SEX OFFENSES AT AYR HOLIDAY CAMP

In May 1997, a disturbing revelation emerged involving Paul Petticrew, a man with a troubling history of sexual offenses against children, who was found to be living in Holywood, Northern Ireland, just a few streets away from his young victim. The case has sparked outrage and concern among local residents and the victim’s family alike.

It was a mother from Holywood who uncovered a shocking detail that has left her devastated. While browsing through a recent brochure from Butlin's, a popular holiday resort near Ayr, she was stunned to recognize a familiar face. On page 58 of the brochure, which features a photograph taken a couple of years prior, was Paul Petticrew, aged 21 at the time, captured enjoying himself in the Showboat Lounge at the holiday complex. The image shows Petticrew watching a band, seemingly carefree, just three weeks after he had subjected an eight-year-old boy to a horrific sexual assault.

The mother recounted her reaction: “I nearly died when I saw the photo. It’s disgusting that he was sitting in a holiday camp where there were thousands of children, and neither Butlin’s nor the parents there knew what he had done to my son. And it’s more sickening knowing the picture was taken three weeks after the offence and he’s sitting there enjoying himself as if nothing mattered.”

Her two daughters had spotted Petticrew in the brochure and showed her the photograph, which intensified her shock. “They nearly died when they saw him, and so did I,” she added. The image, although taken a few years earlier, was a stark reminder of the trauma inflicted on her son, who is now only ten years old. The boy is reportedly too frightened to play outside his home, and the community is actively campaigning to have Petticrew removed from the area.

Petticrew had initially booked into the Ayr holiday camp after being granted bail, with the condition that he stay with his mother in Ayrshire. Despite his criminal history, he later admitted to the assault on the young boy and was subsequently detained in a high-security mental hospital for a year. Now, however, he is free and residing in Holywood, Northern Ireland, just a short distance from his victim’s home.

The boy’s mother expressed her anguish: “He has ruined my son’s life. He has had counselling, but I worry about what the future holds for him. My son is suffering, and the man who did this to him is walking around freely.”

Meanwhile, local residents are outraged and are calling for action. Several have protested, emphasizing their fears that Petticrew’s presence in the community poses a danger to other children. One neighbor stated, “This man is dangerous. We are worried that some other child could suffer the same fate.”

In response, a spokeswoman for Butlin’s issued a statement expressing regret over the distress caused: “We regret any distress caused to the family concerned. We are not in the position to check personal details of our guests, other than as required by law. We take the safety of all our customers very seriously.” She also assured that the company would ensure that Petticrew’s photograph would be removed from future printed materials.

Adding to the controversy, Butlin’s has recently been under scrutiny for reports of drug use, heavy drinking, and fights among youths at Wonderwest World, the same holiday complex near Ayr. Several incidents have been brought before Ayr Sheriff Court, further tarnishing the reputation of the holiday resort.

Earlier, in December 1996, Petticrew’s case had already caused a stir when he was released from a psychiatric unit and allowed to return to Holywood, living just around the corner from his young victim. This decision was met with outrage, especially since a petition with over 100 signatures had been submitted, demanding that he be returned to Scotland where his parents reside. The mother of the victim encountered Petticrew unexpectedly outside a bingo hall, where he reportedly looked directly at her and began sniggering, causing her to freeze in fear.

Petticrew had pleaded guilty in October 1995 to a serious sex offence involving an eight-year-old boy. He served just over half of his sentence in a high-security psychiatric hospital. Despite this, the court had ordered him to live with his family in Scotland while awaiting trial. The case revealed that he had lured the child into his home under the pretense of watching a video, but his true intent was to satisfy his sexual urges. The young victim was so traumatized that he could only communicate with his parents after more than 24 hours of shock.

The mother of the boy expressed her disbelief and frustration: “It makes no sense to anyone living here that before he was convicted he had to leave the area but now it’s all right for him to come back. My son won’t go outside after school. He’s become withdrawn and terrified of meeting this man on the street. How can anyone expect him to recover when he faces the possibility of running into him every day? The whole situation is mad. My son is suffering, yet the man who did this to him is swaggering around the town.”

Community members and neighbors have voiced their concerns, with some protesting to the police and local authorities. A social services spokesperson assured that guidelines are being followed and that the probation service and police are monitoring the situation closely, but the community remains deeply unsettled by Petticrew’s return to Holywood.