Legal News
Mum Discovers Child Sex Offender’s Shock Release via Facebook (15 September 2011)
Date: 15/09/2011
A mum has told of her horror at discovering that the man who was jailed for sexually assaulting her daughter has been released easily and is back living in her local area. Thirty-six-year-old Gavin Poole was freed from prison after serving just half of his two year sentence. Mr. Poole has returned to the county and is living just 20 miles from his victim. The mother learned of Mr. Poole’s release via the popular social networking site Facebook. She claims that the Ministry of Justice should have notified them of Mr. Poole’s release but had failed to do so as the Family has moved house since the assault.
Mr. Poole pleaded guilty to sexual activity with a child under the age of 13 years and with causing or inciting her to engage in sexual activity. In addition to a prison sentence, Mr. Poole was handed a Sexual Offences Prevention Order for an indefinite period and was placed on the sex offenders register for a total of ten years. He has been ordered not to make contact with the Family. Since his release, the probation service has imposed further restrictions yet the victim’s mum insists that these restrictions are insufficient.
A spokesperson for the Ministry of Justice stated that victims registered on the victim contact scheme will be notified when an offender is released from prison following serving 12 months or greater for a sexual or violent Crime.