A mother who killed a sex offender is campaigning to stop paedophiles changing their names to hide their criminal history. Sarah Sands stabbed Michael Pleasted, 77, eight times in 2014 after children said he had sexually abused them.
It emerged Pleasted, thought of by the family as a friendly and helpful neighbour on their east London estate, had changed his name from Robin Moult to conceal a long past of offending against children. Ms Sands told BBC Breakfast: “For paedophiles, if you touch children, there has to be consequences.
“And hiding behind name changes… it has to be taken away from them. That right to change their name has to taken away from them.”
Ms Sands was convicted of manslaughter on the basis of loss of control after an Old Bailey trial in 2015, and eventually jailed for seven and a half years after having her sentenced increased by the Court of Appeal.
She said she originally intended to threaten Pleasted, who was on bail awaiting trial, to make him plead guilty so the children did not have to give evidence in court. Labour MP Sarah Champion told the BBC some offenders are using name changes to avoid criminal records checks needed for jobs including working with children.
She said: “Once they have changed their names, they are able to get a new driving licence and passport in that name. That enables them to get a new DBS check. And we are finding that these people are then going into schools and other places where there are children and vulnerable people and exploiting their positions of trust in the most horrific ways.”
The Home Office said it has already carried out a review of the issue and the UK already has strict rules in place to deal with sex offenders living in the community.
