Locations
Melbourn, Cambridgeshire, SG8
Description
Convicted child sex offender allegedly breaks SOPO and is bailed to live next to primary school.
A convicted child sex offender leers at a young girl after he was bailed to live next to a primary school.
Matthew Peacock has convictions for causing a child to be involved in sexual activity, and making indecent photos of a child.
As part of his sentence he was given a sexual offences prevention order (SOPO), which he was arrested on suspicion of breaching last month.
Police bailed him to a house overlooking the playground and fields of 302-pupil Melbourn primary in Cambridgeshire.
On Friday children were playing just ten metres from his garden fence.
A parent said: It beggars belief. Surely there are more sensible places to put people? Did no one look at a map?
This is nothing but gross incompetence and shows how bungling our police and courts are.
The former wildlife park worker pleaded guilty to making indecent photographs of a child after contacting a girl on Facebook.
He also admitted causing or inciting a girl under 16 to be involved in sexual activity.
At Cambridge crown court he got a two-year community order and was put on the Sex Offenders Register for five years.
He was also given the indefinite SOPO, which police are now investigating if he breached.
Cambridgeshire Constabulary said the house was considered a suitable location after a risk assessment.
It added: Strict guidelines cover the management of registered sex offenders. We are confident they have been applied.
The school did not comment.