PAUL TOWLE'S RE-OFFENSE IN HULL: VICTIM'S OUTRAGE AND JUSTICE SERVED

In December 2011, a disturbing case unfolded in Hull involving the re-emergence of a convicted sex offender, Paul Towle, whose actions have once again shocked the local community and reignited concerns about child safety. Towle, aged 52 and residing on Inglemire Lane in west Hull, was sentenced to two years in prison by Hull Crown Court after admitting to two separate sexual assaults on a nine-year-old girl.

His criminal history is deeply troubling. In 1996, Towle was previously sentenced to four years behind bars for attacking another nine-year-old girl. During that earlier case, he was found to possess photographs of his young victim concealed within a child porn magazine, highlighting a pattern of predatory behavior and a disturbing obsession with young children.

The recent case involved Towle sexually assaulting a young girl, an incident for which he pleaded guilty last year. The court proceedings revealed the severity of his actions, and the judge, Jeremy Baker QC, handed down a sentence of two years' imprisonment. Additionally, Towle was ordered to sign the Sex Offenders Register for a decade and was issued a Sexual Offences Prevention Order. This order explicitly prohibits him from working with children and engaging in any unsupervised contact with minors, aiming to prevent further offenses.

The victim of the latest assault, who cannot be named for legal reasons, expressed her profound disappointment and outrage at Towle’s ability to offend again. She told the Mail that she was “sickened” that Towle had been able to reoffend after his previous conviction. She stated, “I’m appalled he has been able to get anywhere near a child after what he did to me. I really feel for the young girl he has attacked. It has taken me years to come to terms with what happened, and I wouldn’t wish it on anyone else. I want people to take a good look at his picture and, hopefully, he won’t be able to get close to young girls again.”

The first victim, whose case dates back to 1996, also voiced her concerns, fearing that Towle may have more victims who have yet to come forward. She emphasized the importance of reporting any suspicions, saying, “This case shows he hasn’t learned his lesson after what happened to me. I would urge any other youngsters who may have been abused by him to come forward and report it.”

Detective Constable Julie Kitchen from Humberside Police’s Public Protection Unit led the investigation into Towle’s recent offending. After the case concluded, she commented on the importance of thorough investigations in such sensitive cases. She said, “Cases involving sexual offences against children are always distressing, and I would like to thank the victim and her family for their courage during the investigation. I hope this victim and her family can now move on, knowing that Towle has been imprisoned. This case should serve as a warning to others like Paul Towle who have a sexual interest in children, demonstrating that we will investigate any incidents thoroughly to ensure offenders are brought to justice.”

Humberside Police continue to encourage anyone with concerns or information related to child abuse to contact them directly at 0845 6060222, reaffirming their commitment to protecting vulnerable children and preventing further harm.