RAYMOND HORNE RETURNED TO ALL AREAS AFTER LIFETIME IN AUSTRALIA AND SEX OFFENCES

In March 2008, Raymond Horne, a man with a long history of sexual offences against children, was deported from Australia and returned to the United Kingdom, specifically to All Areas. Horne, aged 61 at the time, had lived in Australia since he was five years old, having moved there with his parents and four siblings from Kent in the early 1950s. Despite his long residence, he retained his British nationality, which allowed the Australian government to declare him an 'unlawful citizen' and subsequently expel him from the country after a series of sex offences.

His deportation was the result of a criminal history that included a 12-year prison sentence in Australia for raping two teenage boys. During his incarceration, he was supervised by prison doctor Wendell Rosevear, who expressed concern about the potential risks associated with Horne’s release. Dr. Rosevear warned that the likelihood of paedophiles re-offending tends to increase after deportation, citing heightened anxiety as a contributing factor. He voiced fears that British children could be at risk once Horne settles into the community in All Areas.

Upon his return, authorities in Britain faced the challenge of managing Horne’s potential threat. It is anticipated that he will be subject to a sexual offences prevention order, a legal measure that applies to offenders convicted overseas who are deemed to pose a serious risk of sexual harm within the UK. Such an order could restrict him from being alone with children or from approaching certain areas like playgrounds. However, it is important to note that Horne will not be under constant supervision, as he is not currently on parole or any similar legal condition.

Monitoring agencies, part of the Multi-Agency Public Protection Arrangements (MAPPA), are actively working to ensure that appropriate supervision measures are in place. These agencies are funded by taxpayers and are responsible for supporting and overseeing Horne’s integration into the community. Despite this, experts and child protection advocates have expressed concern that repatriating Horne without a support network or family ties in the UK could have devastating consequences for vulnerable children he might encounter.

Horne is expected to be provided with housing, likely paid for through housing benefits, and assistance in finding employment. Nonetheless, there are ongoing concerns about his safety and the potential for vigilante attacks, especially given his distinctive appearance—white hair and beard, which have been compared to Father Christmas—and his Australian accent, making him easily identifiable. Authorities are considering measures such as encouraging him to change his name and alter his appearance to reduce his vulnerability.

Representatives from agencies responsible for his supervision are working diligently to establish a comprehensive plan for his management. However, because Horne is not under legal obligations such as parole, he is not required to cooperate with these agencies. The situation underscores the complexities involved in managing sex offenders who are returned from abroad, especially when legal frameworks for their supervision are less stringent than those for offenders released on licence within the UK. The case of Raymond Horne highlights the ongoing challenges faced by authorities in balancing public safety with legal and logistical considerations.