RYAN LOCKYER - DANGEROUS SEX OFFENDER FROM AMBROSEN AND READING STRUCK AGAIN

In March 2015, a disturbing case unfolded involving Ryan Lockyer, also known by the alias Frank Cole, whose actions have once again raised serious concerns about public safety and the effectiveness of the justice system. The incident took place in Reading, Berkshire, where Lockyer, a known sex offender with a troubling history, committed a violent and threatening attack that left a lasting impact on the victim and the community alike.

According to court reports, Lockyer followed a 31-year-old woman as she was walking home from her workplace in October of the previous year. The woman was navigating her way through a nature reserve in Reading when Lockyer approached her with a ten-inch knife, brandishing it menacingly and threatening to kill her. The assault was not only physical but also psychological, as the victim was so overwhelmed with fear that she saw no option but to leap into a nearby canal in a desperate attempt to escape her attacker. This act of desperation underscores the severity of the threat Lockyer posed during the incident.

It is crucial to note that Lockyer had a prior conviction from 2011, when he was sentenced to four years in prison for sexual activity with a minor. At the time of the Reading attack, he was out on licence, a conditional release that allows offenders to serve part of their sentence in the community under strict supervision. However, his breach of this licence led to his immediate return to prison, where he continued serving his original sentence.

During the sentencing hearing at Reading Crown Court, the presiding judge, Judge Stephen John, expressed clear frustration with the legal limitations that prevented him from imposing a longer sentence. He ordered Lockyer to serve six years for the recent attack, but due to legislative changes enacted in 2003, the law restricts the ability to extend sentences based on breaches of licence. As a result, Lockyer is expected to serve only an additional seven weeks beyond the minimum, effectively limiting the potential length of his incarceration.

Judge John voiced his disapproval of the legislative framework, stating, “Because Parliament in its wisdom chose in 2003 to abolish the power to return a prisoner to custody to serve the unexpired portion of licence and then to order the fresh sentence to run consecutively to that recall, the effect of my order is that you will literally not serve a day longer for the offences for which you are now sentenced.” He further added, “That is a consequence which, I feel bound to say, I deplore but about which I can do nothing.”

Highlighting the danger Lockyer represents, the judge described him as “one of the more dangerous men” he had encountered in his lengthy career, calling the case “chilling.” Despite the limited additional time Lockyer will serve, he will remain on licence for another ten years once released. Furthermore, he was handed an indefinite Sexual Offences Prevention Order, supplementing a previous 10-year order issued in 2011, reflecting ongoing concerns about his potential risk to the public.

Looking back at Lockyer’s criminal history, it is evident that his pattern of offending has been persistent and deeply troubling. In November 2011, he was sentenced to four years in prison at Oxford Crown Court after admitting to multiple sex-related charges. His criminal activities came to light following an incident in Nuthatch Way, Bicester, where he assaulted and sexually assaulted a woman on May 10. Lockyer, then 18 years old and residing on Elm Close in Ambrosden, pleaded guilty to causing actual bodily harm and sexual assault related to this incident.

Further police investigations revealed that Lockyer was involved in three additional counts of sexual activity with a minor, with offenses spanning from 2010 to 2011 and involving five different victims. He accepted these charges and asked for two more to be formally considered. His sentence included a four-year jail term with an extended three-year licence period, and he was ordered to register as a sex offender for life. Additionally, a 10-year sexual offences prevention order was imposed to restrict his activities and monitor his behavior.

In the aftermath of his sentencing, Detective Sergeant Craig Kirby commented on the case, emphasizing the danger Lockyer posed to vulnerable females and the community at large. He praised the courage of the victims and witnesses who intervened during the attack in Bicester, which was instrumental in ensuring Lockyer’s eventual conviction. Kirby highlighted that without the community’s support and cooperation with law enforcement, bringing Lockyer to justice and managing his risk long-term would have been significantly more challenging. The case underscores the ongoing challenges faced by the justice system in dealing with repeat offenders like Lockyer, whose history and recent actions continue to threaten public safety.