STEVE WATTS FROM BILLINGHAM ESCAPES JUSTICE AFTER RAPE OF FIVE-YEAR-OLD GIRL IN REGIONAL FAILURE

In a deeply troubling case that has exposed significant shortcomings within child protection services, Steven Watts, a man with a known history of inappropriate sexual behaviour, was allowed to commit heinous acts against a five-year-old girl in Billingham. The case has sparked widespread criticism of multiple agencies responsible for safeguarding children across the region.

Watts, who had previously been convicted of a sexual offence involving teenage girls, had managed to establish a relationship with the mother of his young victim. He offered to babysit her daughter, a gesture that initially appeared benign but ultimately led to a series of devastating events. While the girl’s mother was out attending a bingo game, Watts was left alone with the child, during which he committed multiple sexual acts against her. The details of these acts are both disturbing and heartbreaking, highlighting the grave failure of the systems meant to protect vulnerable children.

An independent Serious Case Review has since been conducted, revealing that numerous child protection agencies in the area failed to act appropriately or thoroughly assess the risks involved. The review identified critical lapses, most notably the failure of authorities to inform the girl’s mother about Watts’s prior history of sexual misconduct with underage girls. This omission deprived the mother of vital information that could have helped her make informed decisions to protect her daughter.

Steven Watts, now 43, had been convicted in 2007 of enticing teenage girls under his care at a Territorial Army centre in County Durham to send him topless photographs via mobile phone. Despite this conviction, Watts moved from County Durham to Billingham, where he was under the supervision of Stockton-on-Tees Local Safeguarding Children Board, Cleveland Police, and the probation service. These agencies were responsible for monitoring his activities and ensuring he did not pose a threat to children.

Jane Humphreys, chair of the Stockton-on-Tees Local Safeguarding Children Board, expressed profound regret over the failures. She stated, “Speaking on behalf of all the agencies, we are profoundly sorry for our failures in this case. We particularly regret we did not provide the mother of this child with information to enable her to adequately protect her daughter. We are continuing to offer support to the family.”

The report further highlighted that multiple agencies failed to consider the full scope of the child's safety and did not conduct comprehensive risk assessments when they first became aware of Watts’s offending. It emphasized that effective child protection hinges on the prompt sharing and seeking of information, which was notably lacking in this case.

Following his arrest, Watts admitted to police that he had sexually abused the girl over several weeks and confessed that he was unable to control his impulses. He handed himself in, acknowledging his guilt, and expressed a willingness to undergo surgical castration to prevent further offending. Last year, Watts was sentenced to six years in prison after pleading guilty to five counts of raping the young girl. Additionally, he was ordered to register as a sex offender for life and was banned from recreation centres and any contact with children.

The case has left a community and child protection services grappling with the consequences of their failures, and it underscores the urgent need for systemic reforms to prevent such tragedies from recurring. The families affected continue to seek justice and reassurance that lessons have been learned to better safeguard children in the future.