These child sex offenders and many more have avoided jail thanks to a loophole in the law. Today, we call for changes to get them off our streets

The Northern Echo: Child sex offenders

HUNDREDS of perverts are walking free from court each year because they would not get the treatment they need during a short sentence behind bars.

Today, The Northern Echo is calling for changes to prevent judges from being hamstrung by what campaigners have branded a "disturbing" situation.

The moves have been backed by survivors of child abuse and a cross-party group of North-East MPs a day after a former deputy head's 13-month prison sentence had to be suspended.

Glen Rogers, 46, who worked in Bishop Auckland, downloaded hundreds of images of child abuse from the internet and secretly filming women with spy cameras.

Judge Les Spittle, at Teesside Crown Court, told him: "I am constrained . . . the underlying features of your character, attitude and personality have got to be addressed in order there will be no repetition.

"For the long-term protection of the public, and the sort of sentences I can impose, that will not happen within a custodial setting, I'm afraid."

Some senior judges, child protection police officers and probation officials privately have doubts about the effectiveness of the treatment.

And just yesterday (Tuesday, July 2) 57-year-old James Miller from Darlington who admitted hoarding almost 9,000 indecent images of children was spared jail after a judge said imprisonment would deny him a place on a sex offenders' treatment programme.

The National Association of People Abused in Childhood (NAPAC) believes the courses do not stop some re-offending as deviants rarely change.

The Northern Echo wants to see tougher penalties for those downloading or making images of abuse and a change to the system where only those sentenced to two years or more can get the treatment they - and the public - need.

Peter Saunders, the chief executive of NAPAC, welcomed The Echo's "valiant" campaign, and said: "Few crimes cause more devastation to an individual than child abuse."

Mr Saunders said: "Whether this is actual abuse perpetrated by an offender or paying someone else to perpetrate the crime - such as viewing images of children being abused - the consequences for the victim may well last a lifetime.

"We are deeply disturbed by the tendency of offenders to be given non-custodial sentences when found guilty, based on the plea that, if they don't receive a certain time in prison they will not be able to receive treatment.

"At NAPAC we are unconvinced that such ‘treatments’ are effective because we challenge the notion that abusers are ‘sick’. They make evil choices and society has to make it clear that this is totally unacceptable.

"People who rob banks make a choice. They know it is wrong but choose to do it. Most abusers know what they are doing is wrong and we have to stop them.

"We understand why judges may feel hamstrung, but instead of letting these people walk free, when they are highly likely to re-offend, surely this gap must be plugged.

"We concede that with ‘treatment’ some, I stress some, offenders may not re-offend - or get caught - but to allow these crimes to go unpunished is a huge mistake because it sends a signal to society that such crimes are not as serious as others.

"I can think of no worse crime to inflict on a child. It also sends a signal to abusers that they may walk free, and that is appalling for child protection.

"We add our support to The Northern Echo’s valiant attempt to close this loophole and thus keep our children a little safer in future."

* Tomorrow: What your MPs say about the campaign.