Suspended sentence for sex offender caught wearing girls' knickers again
A man who was caught wearing several pairs of girls’ knickers has been handed a suspended prison sentence after breaching an order banning him from acquiring children’s underwear.
Kevin Plant was also found by detectives to have hidden 35 pairs of girls’ pants at his Dudley home.
The 51-year-old had been facing an immediate custodial sentence because of the ‘serious risk’ he poses to children but a judge concluded that a short spell behind bars was not a solution to the danger he presented.
A 10-year sexual harm protection order was imposed in 2015 because of Plant’s fetish for children’s underwear, prosecutor Patrick Kelly told Wolverhampton Crown Court.
In January 2016 he was cautioned for an offence against the order, then earlier this year he admitted breaching the court order after being found wearing five pairs of girls’ knickers during a check on his home in Mousesweet Close, Darby End.
A further 35 items of children’s underwear were discovered stashed behind cushions.
High risk
Prosecutor Mr Patrick Kelly described the defendant as a ‘high risk’ of causing sexual harm to children and an ‘imminent risk’ to young females.
Concerns were raised about him both in a police report, which said he showed no remorse, and in a psychologist’s report.
But Mr Simon Rippon, defending, argued neither had recommended a prison sentence.
As far back as 2010, Plant had recognised he needed help, he added.
He said Plant was taking part in ongoing therapy, being quarter of the way through a 20-session course on which he was doing well.
“He says he is determined to turn his life around,” added Mr Rippon.
And judge James Burbidge, QC, told Plant: “Since you came before me in July, I have tried to to find ways of keeping you out of prison. The primary concern is that you are at risk of abusing children.
"It seems to me your offending clearly crosses the custody threshold but you’re attending therapy and it says in a probation report you have performed well.
"A further 15 sessions is going to be better than locking you up for a relatively short time.”
Plant was sentenced to 15 months in prison suspended for 18 months and ordered to pay £50 towards prosecution costs.
