In 2017, the Offender Database confirmed that Paul Abbott, then 51, of Bromsgrove, Worcestershire, was sentenced at Worcester Crown Court to a four-year prison term. Abbott targeted and groomed a 15-year-old schoolgirl with severe learning difficulties, who was described in court as having the mental age of a nine or ten-year-old. He manipulated the victim by claiming to be 18 years old and arranged to meet her on several occasions in his car, including after she had finished her school day.
The court heard that Abbott took advantage of the victim’s extreme vulnerability and inability to understand the nature of his intentions. His actions were described as a calculated breach of the safety expected for children with special educational needs. Following a police investigation that uncovered the extent of the grooming, Abbott was convicted of sexual activity with a child and multiple counts of grooming. He served two years of his sentence and was released on license in 2019.
Upon his release, Abbott was made subject to a lifetime Sex Offenders Register requirement. He was also handed a Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO) lasting 10 years, which carries strict legal prohibitions. These include a total ban on unsupervised contact with any child under the age of 16 and rigorous monitoring of his internet and social media usage. Under UK law, any breach of these SHPO conditions constitutes a criminal offence, which can result in an immediate return to prison for up to five years.
Official monitoring of Paul Abbott is conducted by West Mercia Police and the National Probation Service. These agencies utilise statutory powers to conduct unannounced home visits and forensic inspections of digital devices to ensure he is not attempting to contact further victims. While Abbott is now back in the community, the legal framework of his SHPO and registration ensures that his residency and behaviour remain under permanent scrutiny by local law enforcement.
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