A man now has to call the police every time he wants to have sex after he was hit with a court order.
The man, who Cheshire Police did not name, appeared at Wirral Magistrates' Court on Thursday, April 4 before District Judge Healey. However, official court documents have revealed the man is Richard Jones, 39 from Wirral.
During the hearing the court was told Jones, whose address was given on court papers as on Cherry Tree Road in Moreton, was a suspect in a number of sexual assault cases involving women in Cheshire and Merseyside. Jones was investigated in connection with these incidents but never charged.
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On the evidence presented to the court, Judge Healey was satisfied "on the balance of probabilities" that Jones had done one or more acts of a sexual nature. A Sexual Risk Order was implemented on Jones for the purpose of protecting the public or any particular members of the public from harm.
The order states that for an indefinite period Jones must not enter into any contractual arrangement or agreement for the provision or receipt of sexual services in return for money or any other payment. For three years Jones must also not engage in any sexual contact with any person unless he has first notified an officer from the protecting vulnerable persons (PVP) unit, at the Police force in which he is residing and an officer of the Police force in which the person he is intending to have sexual contact with is residing.
Jones must also provide the name, date of birth and address of the person he is proposing to have sexual contact with. Additionally, for an indefinite period Jones must not remain on any premises when asked to leave by the occupier or anyone who manages or controls the premises or is employed at the premises.
He must also notify the police of any change to his name and home address within three days of changing it for an indefinite period. The order will be proactively enforced by officers and should he breach the order he faces a prison sentence of up to five years.
Detective Constable Chris O’Connor, from Ellesmere Port CID was involved in the investigation into the individual. He said: "We are committed to doing all that we can to protect anyone at risk of sexual assault and, as this case demonstrates, we will use all of the tools available to us in conjunction with our neighbouring forces to help achieve our goal. The decision to apply for the order was not taken lightly. However, we carefully considered our options and obligation to protect the public and we are satisfied that this order is the right course of action to protect women in Cheshire and Merseyside."
Sexual Risk Orders are a civil order that impose restrictions on the behaviour of a particular person that the court deems necessary for the purposes of protecting the public from risk of sexual harm. An order can be made in respect of any person who the police consider poses a risk of sexual harm to the public, notwithstanding the fact they have not been convicted of a sexual offence.
Chief Superintendent Gareth Lee, head of public protection at Cheshire Constabulary, said: "Violence against women and girls is a priority for the force and our officers are committed to doing all they can to ensure that everyone feels safe on the streets of Cheshire. The outcome of this case is testament to the dedication and hard work of all those involved both in Cheshire and Merseyside in securing the order at Court and safeguarding women who are potentially at risk.
“The officers involved have worked extremely hard alongside colleagues in the force’s Public Protection Directorate and solicitors from the Merseyside Police’s legal team to ensure a positive outcome. Not only does the order restrict the activities of this man, it provides peace of mind to women by ensuring that safeguarding measures are in place if needed."
The ECHO approached Jones' solicitors who said he did not want to comment on the case.
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