STEPHEN HALL MOVED NEAR VICTIMS IN BRADFORD AND LEEDS DESPITE SEX OFFENSES

In a recent development that has sparked outrage among residents and relatives of victims, Stephen Hall, a 41-year-old sex offender from Bradford, has been relocated just a mile and a half away from the homes of those he harmed, raising serious concerns about community safety and the effectiveness of current housing policies.

Hall was convicted of gross indecency involving three children under the age of 14. Following his guilty plea, Bradford magistrates sentenced him to two years of probation on June 18. As part of his sentence, Hall is also required to attend 20 sessions at the Bradford Child Sexual Abuse Perpetrators Project, a measure aimed at rehabilitation and monitoring.

Despite the conviction and the community's protests, the local council has initiated eviction proceedings against Hall. However, due to procedural delays, he has been temporarily moved from his previous residence in Rokeby Gardens, Greengates, to an address in Undercliffe, where he now resides with his wife, Pat. This decision has been met with widespread disapproval from residents and relatives alike.

A resident of Rokeby Gardens expressed their fears, stating, "I am frightened. He is still in the area. What was the point of moving him when he’s just down the road? He should have been moved out of the district. There could be more repercussions now, and the last thing we want is trouble."

The father of one of Hall’s victims, who has chosen to remain anonymous for legal reasons, voiced his disbelief at the situation, saying, "I’m astonished by this. The Council has not done its job right. He should have been moved well away."

In response to the case, Bradford’s MP for North Bradford, Terry Rooney, has taken action by writing to the Lord Chancellor, Lord Irvine, urging a review of Hall’s case. Rooney advocates for harsher sentencing for sex offenders, proposing a minimum sentence of ten years, arguing that current measures are insufficient for public safety.

Meanwhile, Councillor Jim O’Neill, who is deputy chairman of housing and chairman of housing services, has been involved in efforts to rehouse Hall. When contacted by the Telegraph & Argus about Hall’s current whereabouts, Councillor O’Neill admitted he was surprised and expressed his intention to contact authorities immediately. He emphasized the importance of removing Hall from the community, stating, “Now that I know, I will contact officers. I want this man well away. The problem is we need court dates to get him evicted from his house, but the system is slow. He is a tenant of the Council until we can kick him out. But I am surprised and shocked that he is so close.”

According to a spokesperson from Bradford Council’s Housing and Environmental Protection Directorate, the move was an emergency, temporary measure implemented last week. The council has assured that Hall will be relocated out of the surrounding area as soon as possible, but due to limited property options outside the district, this process may take several weeks. The council has also begun steps to repossess Hall’s original home, but legal procedures and court delays are expected to prolong the process further.