Jail for Abingdon paedophile who had children's underwear

Craig Grealy, 42, was found in possession of the children’s undergarments when police visited him in November last year, then again the following month.

Having been arrested and bailed, police found him with soiled children’s clothing – including pyjamas – once again in May this year.

A court order initially imposed in 2002 after he was convicted of indecently assaulting a girl under-14 bans him from having any children’s clothing.

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Sentencing him at Oxford Crown Court on Friday (June 23), Recorder Samantha Presland said: “There’s no two ways about it; these are persistent breaches of the sexual harm prevention order.

“There are worrying concerns.

"There has been a request that [I] take this clause out [of the SHPO, preventing him from having children’s clothing].

“But the police officer has written a statement saying some of the items found were soiled, which means either you were soiling them or you were obtaining items which have previously been soiled and used by children.”

The second possibility was particularly concerning as it might mean that Grealy has had contact with young people, the judge added.

In a pre-sentence report, the probation service said they were unable to offer him any support in the community as a result of what Recorder Presland characterised as his ‘persistent breaching of their assistance’.

“Likewise, you’ve said you don’t want to work with them,” she added.

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That meant her hands were tied and the only sentence she could pass was an immediate term of imprisonment.

The judge told Grealy, who appeared in court via video link from HMP Bullingdon: “It is clear the police said to you, you are not allowed to have this [underwear]; yet you did it again, then you did it again.

“It seems to me with probation saying they cannot work with you, as much as I am aware you have significant health difficulties and I know you won’t understand a lot of what I am saying, I need you to understand you are considered to be a risk, that this is risky behaviour and you have been told not to have these items.

“But you persistently go out and get them and it is not clear whether they are being bought new or somehow obtained.”

The court heard Grealy had mental health difficulties and had previously been put up in supported accommodation.

The defendant, of Helens Mews, Abingdon, pleaded guilty at earlier court hearings to three counts of breaching his sexual harm prevention order.

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