John Ridley 72

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A sex offender who poses a “significant” future risk, even at the age of 71, has been jailed for abusing both a child and a woman in her 30s on the same day.

The judge passing sentence on John Ridley told him he appears to have “no sexual boundaries” and seems to hold the belief he can do what he wants, “without facing any consequences”.

Ridley, of South View Terrace, Chilton Moor, near Houghton-le-Spring, admitted sexual assault of a female and of a girl, when he appeared before magistrates earlier this year.

He failed to appear for his scheduled sentencing hearing at Durham Crown Court, last month, but later surrendered himself, blaming a car break down.

The sentencing hearing was rearranged for yesterday (Thursday May 18), when the court was told the defendant served a 15-year sentence, imposed at Newcastle Crown Court, for rape and indecent assault on children, in 2008.

Ian West, prosecuting, said, on his release, despite being on the sex offenders’ register for life, he did not inform those he lived among of his past conviction.

The court heard the latest offences were committed when he indecently assaulted a girl lying in her bed, while telling her to remain quiet, and later carried out a similar offence on a woman in her own home, despite, in both cases, being urged to “stop”.

Police were called and he was arrested the following day, admitting the assault on the woman, but, initially, not the offence involving the child.

Mr West said there were, “disturbing aspects” to the offences, as he had told acquaintances that he “fancied” the woman involved in the offence and that he wanted to get her partner, “off the scene”.

The woman was to tell police she knew nothing of the defendant’s past offending history.

In her victim statement she said she has since been diagnosed as suffering with anxiety and depression, having experienced flashbacks and nightmares following the offence, after which she cut herself off from friends and family.

She said she also now finds it unnerving being around men, even those she has known for a long time.

Katie Spence, in mitigation, urged the court not to punish her client again for his past offending, for which he served, “a significant” sentence.

She told the court that following his release from that past long sentence he has, “led a fairly lonely life”, and moved to a new area with limited friendships which she described as, entirely, “innocent”.

“But on (that day) he said he didn’t know what happened, but knows it was entirely his fault, and he knows the only way to prevent him offending is if he just stops.

“He fully accepts the need to address his behaviour.”

Miss Spence said the defendant hoped, through her, to seek a suspended prison sentence, despite the aggravating factor of his previous offending.

But Judge James Adkin told Miss Spence taking such a course would be, “unduly lenient”.

Passing sentence, he told Ridley: “You are 71 and have been sent here for sexual misconduct with two people.

“A feature of your offending is your sense of sexual entitlement.

“You don’t appear to have sexual boundaries and you appear to do what you want to do and not face any consequences.

“The probation report states that you do pose a significant risk to the public of serious harm, and I agree with that.”

Judge Adkin made Ridley subject of a total 36-month extended determinate sentence, of which he must serve at least two-thirds before becoming eligible for release by the Parole Board.

But at the end of the 36-month custodial period Ridley will remain subject to the scrutiny of licence conditions for a further two years.

The judge also made Ridley subject of a Sexual Harm Prevention Order, registration as a sex offender, and restraining orders relating to his two latest victims, all for life.