England’s largest child abuse charity has accused the courts of failing to protect children after a man convicted of raping a girl remained free to work as a photographer.
Trevor Payne, 67, of Fry Close, Collier Row, was convicted on July 15 of three counts of rape and three of sexual assault back in the 1960s but remains free to accept jobs with children.
The National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children (NSPCC) said bail conditions should have been used to prevent any “risk” he may present.
Havering’s Det Ch Insp Phil Rickells said police were only aware of Payne’s conviction after being contacted by the Recorder and the breakdown in communication between the court and police over the case is being “investigated”.
A CPS spokesman said that they were not able to verify that Payne was working with children in the “time available”, despite pictures on his website and Facebook page showing he regularly has contact with youths in his line of work.
A Recorder reporter posed as a parent and asked Payne if he would photograph a 15-year-old girl’s birthday party. He said: “Yeah that’s fine. What sort of time?”
Payne told the reporter he had just been booked for a wedding on Saturday and had a CRB (criminal records bureau) check “to work with children and vulnerable adults”. After the reporter revealed his identity, Payne initially denied he was the convicted man before revealing: “To be honest, it is me.”
When asked again about his CRB he said: “Under the present circumstances I know it wouldn’t be renewed.”
Bail conditions state that he must surrender his passport and reside at his home address. A Sopo (sexual offences prevention order), which could ban him from working with children, may be made on sentencing on August 8.
When Payne was 14 he began abusing his victim. She was aged eight when the assaults started and 20 when they stopped.
He has not committed a crime by continuing accept work with children.
The NSPCC’s sexual abuse chief, Jon Brown, said: “He has been found guilty of sexual offences and bail conditions should be used to contain any risk that he may still present to children and young people.
“It is understandable that parents would be concerned and angry if they knew that Mr Payne was still working where there are children present while he is awaiting sentencing.”
A CPS spokesman said: “[Bail] conditions were not breached at any point. Post-conviction, considerations in relation to bail fall within the remit of the court.”
The mother of a 16-year-old girl was horrified to hear that he took pictures of her daughter and her 15-year-old friends before their prom on July 4 just three days before his trial started.
“It’s quite shocking to think he was in my house with my children,” said Nancy McLaughlin, 39, of Barnstaple Road, Harold Hill.
Read more:
Romford pensioner facing jail term for historic sexual offences
Black cabbie from Romford jailed for raping passenger
Harold Wood teen jailed for violent rape of Down’s Syndrome girl
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here