Telford MP Lucy Allan is this week making urgent representations to the Chair of the Parole Board and the Lord Chancellor to refuse the early release of a manipulative convicted child sex offender.
The Parole Board is planning to release this offender half way through a 15 year sentence. The victim who suffered abuse throughout her childhood is horrified that the perpetrator is eligible for early release after only 7 years in prison.
The perpetrator, described as manipulative by the trial judge, has now changed their gender and their name. This means that perpetrator can no longer be linked to the crime. They will be afforded enhanced rights of privacy under the law. Lucy does not have confidence that the Parole Board has given due regard to the risk this presents to society.
Lucy Allan MP said:
Last month, I raised this case in Parliament and called for a change in the law so that convicted sex offenders cannot disguise their criminal record by changing their gender and their name. Now I find myself making representations to the Parole Board to refuse the imminent early release of this serious child sex abuser halfway through their sentence. The offender has changed their gender and can no longer, by law, be connected with their previous identity or their crime. This ‘loophole‘ creates a serious risk to society which the Parole Board has clearly ignored.My constituent has had to waive her anonymity to seek justice, whilst the perpetrator’s identity is protected by their new gender identity. Victims and society more widely find this completely inexplicable. Society must be protected from serious offenders.