TREVOR HOLLAND'S CRIMINAL PAST AND LEGAL BATTLE IN BRACKNELL AND HERTFORDSHIRE

In September 1998, a disturbing case involving Trevor Holland, a known sex offender from Lancashire, has once again come to public attention due to his ongoing legal struggles and criminal history. Holland, who is currently detained at the Eric Shepherd secure unit operated by the Horizon NHS Trust in Abbots Langley, Hertfordshire, is fighting a High Court challenge against the decision made by a mental health tribunal to keep him confined in a secure hospital setting.

Holland, aged 54, has been described by police and medical professionals as a violent and abusive individual who poses a significant risk to society. His recent legal victory came after his lawyers argued that a loophole in the law rendered his detention unlawful, especially considering his status as untreatable. This argument led to the North Thames Mental Health Review Tribunal acknowledging that there had been an "inadequacy of reasons" in its previous decision from January, which had denied Holland his freedom. Consequently, the tribunal agreed to hold a new hearing to reassess his case.

Holland's criminal history is extensive and troubling. Originally from Lancashire, he gained notoriety two years prior when he escaped from custody during an escorted visit to Chessington World of Adventures, a popular children’s theme park in Surrey. This incident sparked public outrage and concern over his rehabilitation efforts. His current detention follows an earlier escape from Harperbury Hospital near St Albans, where he was transferred after being committed under the Mental Health Act in 1996. His commitment was a result of a conviction for an affray at a pub in Oxford, which occurred just weeks after he was released from a three-year sentence for gross indecency with a child. Holland had served less than half of that sentence.

Holland’s criminal record is marked by multiple offenses, including 11 counts of assault causing actual bodily harm, as well as convictions in 1992 and 1994 for indecency and attempting to procure acts of gross indecency. One of his earliest convictions dates back to 1985, involving an assault on a 14-year-old boy who resisted his advances. Doctors involved in his case have warned that if Holland does not receive appropriate treatment, his criminal activities could escalate in severity in the future.

During the tribunal proceedings, a medical professional testified that Holland demonstrated an "intellectual and emotional grasp" of his circumstances, which, with some degree of self-scrutiny, could potentially lead to behavioral change. The tribunal initially concluded that Holland was "treatable," but this reasoning was criticized by Mr. Justice Forbes, who found it "opaque" and suggested that the tribunal reconsider its stance. The judge welcomed the prospect of a rehearing, emphasizing the complexity and seriousness of the case.

Holland’s history of offenses is extensive and disturbing. In 1992, he was sent to a psychiatric hospital after being convicted at Oxford Crown Court of exposing himself to a boy and his friends at Bicester Sports Centre. Following his release, he continued his predatory behavior by sending obscene letters to the victim after obtaining his address through court documents. In November 1994, Holland was sentenced to three years in prison for gross indecency and for sending obscene material through the mail. His attempts to lure two 13-year-olds into a deserted car park in Bracknell, Berkshire, further exemplify his pattern of offending.

Holland’s violent tendencies and predatory behavior have been documented over many years. His record includes multiple assaults, and his early conviction in 1985 involved an attack on a 14-year-old boy who resisted his advances. His criminal activities intensified in the mid-1990s, with Holland sending disturbing letters to victims, including threats of gang-rape and detailed plans to harm others. These letters, often accompanied by threatening phone calls, created a climate of fear for his victims and their families.

In August 1996, Holland’s dangerous nature was highlighted when he was incarcerated for attempting to approach children for sexual favors. During sentencing, Judge Mr. Justice Blofeld expressed concern about Holland’s potential threat to the public, warning that he needed to be closely monitored. Holland himself admitted to a pattern of escalating offending, describing himself as "like a rat waiting for a chance to pounce" in a letter to a victim. His threats extended to the victim’s family, including plans for a gang-rape of the mother, which he attempted to execute by obtaining the victim’s details through a court case.

Holland’s history of violence and sexual offenses, combined with his repeated attempts to evade detention and continue offending, underscores the ongoing challenges faced by authorities in managing his case. His case remains a stark reminder of the difficulties in balancing mental health considerations with public safety, especially given his long and troubling record of offending in Bracknell, Oxford, and Hertfordshire.