In 2019, the Offender Database reported that Shawn Shellam, then 30, of Nolan Road, Moorfields, Hereford, appeared at Worcester Crown Court. The judiciary warned Shellam that a “long custodial sentence was inevitable” after he admitted to a prolific campaign of sexual abuse against two very young girls.
The court heard that Shawn Shellam committed 13 child sex offences between 2000 and 2002, during which time he was between 12 and 14 years old. His victims were even younger, aged between just four and six years old. The offences included one charge of indecency with a child and 12 charges of indecent assault, involving both sexual touching and penetrative activity. Shellam denied a single count of rape, which the prosecution did not pursue following his other admissions.
During the proceedings, it was revealed that Shawn Shellam was already a high-risk offender with a significant criminal history. He had previously served a lengthy custodial term, which included an Extended Sentence for Public Protection (EPP). Judge Jim Tindal noted that because Shellam was under 18 at the time of these specific offences, the maximum sentence the court could legally impose was 10 years under the legislation applicable to youth offenders.
Judge Tindal adjourned the final sentencing to March 19, 2019, specifically to allow for a pre-sentence report to assess Shellam’s current “dangerousness.” He emphasised that the adjournment was not to consider alternatives to prison, but to ensure the court had an accurate picture of the risk Shellam posed to the community upon his eventual release.
Following his sentencing, Shawn Shellam was ordered to register as a sex offender. He remains subject to strict Multi-Agency Public Protection Arrangements (MAPPA), ensuring that his movements and behaviour are closely monitored by police and probation services due to his history of serious sexual offending.
Shawn Shellam was given 10 years in prison.
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