STEWART SIMPSON PLYMOUTH SEX OFFENDER TRICKS HIS WAY INTO FAMILY HOMES
In September 2014, Stewart Simpson, a known sexual predator from Plymouth, was sentenced to prison after a series of deceptive tactics that allowed him to gain access to family homes within the city.Simpson, who was working as a decorator at the time, exploited his profession and fabricated stories to establish trust with parents, thereby breaching court-imposed restrictions designed to protect children.
Simpson, aged 40 and residing on Mount Gould Road, Lipson, used false pretenses to infiltrate private residences.
During the Plymouth Crown Court proceedings, it was revealed that he falsely claimed to be a former police officer, specifically a child protection officer, in order to gain entry into the homes of unsuspecting families.
One such family was told he was a former child protection officer, a lie that helped him build rapport and secure access to their children.
Fortunately, none of the children involved in these incidents were harmed.
Despite this, Judge Paul Darlow emphasized the potential danger posed by Simpson’s actions, stating, “Your presence in those households presented a high risk to the children.” The court acknowledged that Simpson’s intentions were not sexual in nature at the time of entry, but his actions still represented a significant breach of trust and court orders.
Simpson was convicted of 11 counts of breaching a Sexual Offences Prevention Order (SOPO), which had been imposed in 2008 following his previous conviction for sexual assault on a child under 13.
The order prohibited him from being in the company of children without supervision or without informing relevant authorities.
Between July and October of the previous year, Simpson repeatedly violated these restrictions.
Prosecutor Sarah Vince outlined that Simpson had advertised himself as a decorator on Facebook, which he used as a cover to work at four different homes where children were present.
In each case, the parents were unaware of his criminal background, and later expressed to police that they would not have allowed him into their homes had they known.
Simpson’s interactions with the children included picking them up, cuddling, and kissing them—acts he was not explicitly warned against by the parents.
Notably, he was trusted enough to babysit the children for a period of 45 minutes.
During his interactions, Simpson falsely claimed to be a former Royal Marine and a police child protection officer.
He also lied about being married with two children.
These fabrications were part of his effort to appear trustworthy and gain access to vulnerable families.
It was also revealed that Simpson had a prior conviction for indecency with a child, which further underscored the seriousness of his breaches.
Despite his history, Simpson’s defense, represented by Nick Lewin, argued that Simpson was not acting as a sexual predator during these incidents.
Lewin, who is openly gay, maintained that Simpson was simply trying to earn a living as a decorator—an occupation he had learned while incarcerated.
Lewin admitted that Simpson had breached the SOPO but insisted that his client’s actions were not predatory, emphasizing the importance of context and intent.
Judge Darlow sentenced Simpson to 29 months in prison, reflecting the gravity of his breaches and the potential risk posed to children in Plymouth.
The case highlights ongoing concerns about the effectiveness of court orders and the importance of vigilance in protecting vulnerable minors from individuals with a history of sexual offenses.
