ROYCE MCCULLOUGH OF NEWTOWNARDS JAILED FOR SEX OFFENSES AND ESCAPE FROM POLICE CUSTODY

In a recent case heard at Downpatrick Crown Court, Royce McCullough, a young man from Newtownards, was sentenced to serve time in connection with serious criminal offenses involving sexual misconduct and police custody escapes. The 21-year-old, who resides on Ballyblack Road East, pleaded guilty to multiple charges that have brought him into the spotlight for all the wrong reasons.

McCullough was found guilty of indecently assaulting two women, one of whom was under the age of 16 at the time of the assault. These disturbing allegations led to a conviction that has significantly impacted his life and reputation. The court also heard that in February 2011, McCullough attempted to evade law enforcement twice, escaping from police custody on two separate occasions. These incidents further compounded his legal troubles and demonstrated a pattern of misconduct.

As a result of his guilty pleas, McCullough was sentenced to a total of two years in prison. This sentence was structured with nine months to be served behind bars, followed by an additional 15 months on licence, meaning he would be under supervision after his release. The court also mandated that he be registered on the Sex Offenders’ Register for a period of ten years, reflecting the severity of his sexual offenses. Additionally, a Sexual Offences Prevention Order (SOPO) was imposed to restrict his activities and prevent further harm.

One of the notable restrictions placed upon McCullough was a ban from using social networking platforms such as Facebook and Bebo. The court explicitly prohibited him from engaging with these sites, which are often used for social interaction and communication. Furthermore, he was barred from working with children in any capacity, a precaution aimed at safeguarding vulnerable individuals. The judge also ordered that McCullough must allow police access to his computers at any time, ensuring ongoing monitoring of his online activity.

In relation to his escapes from custody, McCullough received concurrent six-month jail sentences for each incident. The first escape occurred on February 6, 2011, when he managed to break free from the custody of a female PSNI officer. Two days later, he escaped again from the Bangor PSNI custody suite. These breaches of law contributed to the overall severity of his sentencing.

Despite his legal troubles, McCullough’s old Bebo profile was still accessible online as of last week. The profile, which listed him as loving rugby and claiming he was scared of “nothing,” showed no friends and appeared to be inactive. His online presence and social media activity continue to be a point of concern given the restrictions imposed by the court and the nature of his offenses.