Locations
Mackintosh Place, Roath, Cardiff, CF24
Description
A serial paedophile who was previously found in possession of a bottle of chloroform and roll of tape in his bag breached a court order after he was seen near a children's park. He was caught by a probation officer who had dealt with him on many occasions.
Christian John, 48, was made subject to a Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO) banning him from being within 50 metres of a children's park. He was previously jailed for child sex offences, and was described as a "predator" by a judge.
A sentencing hearing at Newport Crown Court on Tuesday heard a senior probation officer was walking near Roath Park recreation fields in Cardiff last year. As she was walking along Ninian Road, the officer became aware of two men shouting and recognised a man sitting on a bench as the defendant.
Prosecutor Megan Jones said the officer had dealings with John, also known as John Davies, over many years and was aware of the SHPO he was subject to. She also saw the defendant was drinking alcohol, which had been a factor in his previous offences. She reported the matter to the police and John was arrested.
The defendant, of Mackintosh Place, Roath, later pleaded guilty to breach of a SHPO. The court heard he has 31 previous convictions for 47 offences, including 13 previous breaches of sexual offence orders.
- February 1996
John is given a three-year probation order for indecently assaulting a boy.
- July 1996
He breaches that order and is sent to a young offender institution for 18 months.
- February 1998
The defendant is jailed for 21 months for grabbing a child, pulling him towards a wooded area and telling him: I want to shag you.
- April 2004
John is jailed for 30 months for breaching a sexual offender order after being caught with a bottle of chloroform, syringe, roll of sticky tape, 10in knife, and camera in his bag.
- October 2006
He is given a 12-month community order for breaching a Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO) by going within 15m of a school.
- September 2007
The defendant is jailed for 12 months for breaching the SHPO four times by being in a play area and having alcohol.
- May 2008
John is jailed for three months for another breach and possessing an offensive weapon.
- August 2008
He is given a community order for breaching a restraining order.
- October 2008
The defendant is jailed for 22 months for a further breach, this time being drunk and watching children in a park.
- January 2011
John approaches a young child and whispers in his ear in a public place. He is caught with a knife and a camera.
- May 2011
He is jailed for 75 days for four counts of making indecent images of children.
- March 2012
He is jailed for two years for sexual assault after grabbing a boys wrist and trying to kiss him.
- September 2015
He is jailed for two years for approaching an eight-year-old boy in the Mill Road park in Ely and saying: You come with me now.
Judge Eleri Rees imposes a new order preventing him from going within 50m of any public recreational area in Cardiff as defined by a list of more than 300 areas.
- July 2017
He is jailed for six months for breaching the SHPO in Roath Park.
- February 2018
The order is amended to allow him nearer specific parks to help the Probation Service to find him accommodation.
- June 2018
He is jailed for two years for loitering in Roath Park on a bike.
- August 2019
John is sentenced to 16 months imprisonment after loitering at park in Tonyrefail, where children were playing rugby sevens