Airdrie & Coatbridge Advertiser
SEX BEAST FUGITIVE BEHIND BARS
Pervert was on the run abroad for three years
A brazen sex beast who fled Airdrie and repeatedly defied the authorities during three years on the run is now behind bars.
Fugitive Roderick Beaumont, 65, originally skipped bail back in December 2016 while awaiting sentencing for trying to groom a teenage schoolboy from a house in Petersburn.
The Advertiser then covered the remarkable justice-flouting behaviour of sick paedophile Beaumont and, after he initially moved to Albania with £9000, we tracked him down in Mexico – when he was discovered trying to order costumes for yoga figures used in teaching children in October 2017.
He was later arrested on an extradition warrant in March 2019 and justice finally caught up with Beaumont last week when he was jailed for a year at Dundee Sheriff Court for fleeing the country after failing to tell the police he was going abroad.
He admitted knowing that he intended to travel to Amsterdam, Rome, Albania and Mexico on December 3, 2016, in breach of the Sexual Offences Act.
Beaumont was on bail from Airdrie Sheriff Court at the time – and subject to sex offenders notification requirements.
Jailing Beaumont last week, Sheriff Alistair Carmichael said: “In all the circumstances, only a custodial sentence is appropriate, which I think you know.
“I am taking into account the circumstances of the offence and the age of it, although a lot of that is down to you because you didn’t come back to the UK.”
A fugitive sex beast who fled Airdrie for Albania when he was found guilty of trying to groom a teenage boy from a house in Petersburn spent nearly three years on the run after duping border patrol security staff in Scotland into letting him leave the country.
Former teacher and self-styled lifestyle guru Roderick Beaumont spent time on the run in Amsterdam, Rome and Albania after being convicted of child sex crimes.
Beaumont, 65, then moved to Mexico – where he married a local woman before eventually being found and recaptured by police.
The paedophile skipped bail while he was waiting to be sentenced in December 2016 and flew out of Edinburgh with 9000 Euro in cash.
His bail terms prevented him travelling out of the UK without first informing police as part of the terms of being on the Sex Offenders’ Register.
But, despite the alarm being raised by airport staff in December 2016, Beaumont managed to persuade them he was intending to return from a holiday in Albania.
Two-and-a-half years later he was eventually captured in Mexico – after the Advertiser tracked him down there – where he was held in jail for a year waiting to be extradited.
Last week at Dundee Sheriff Court, justice finally caught up with Beaumont as he was jailed for a year for fleeing the country after failing to tell the police he was going abroad.
Beaumont admitted that, between November 27 and December 3, 2016, he failed to notify police about his travel plans.
He admitted knowing he intended to travel to Amsterdam, Rome, Albania and Mexico on December 3, 2016, in breach of the Sexual Offences Act.
He was on bail from Airdrie Sheriff Court at the time – and was subject to sex offenders notification requirements while sentence was deferred until December 16.
While he was on the run, an English court ran a historic sex abuse case for offences he committed while he was a teacher nearly 40 years ago.
Beaumont was found guilty and sentenced to four years imprisonment and had a further five years extended sentence added by the judge who branded him “a clear and present danger to children”.
He appeared via video link from Barlinnie Prison and fiscal depute Marie Irvine told the court: “Border Policing Command based at Edinburgh Airport were notified by security staff the accused was passing through Edinburgh Airport in possession of 9000 Euro in cash.
“Officers stopped and interviewed the accused and he stated he was travelling to Amsterdam, onwards to Rome and then onto his final destination, Tirana in Albania.
“He was travelling alone and stated he had a return ticket with a return date of December 12, 2016.
“When questioned about the cash, the accused stated he was using it to research and make a down payment for an apartment for him and his mother to ultimately move to.
“He appeared to be travelling with minimal luggage and his story appeared consistent with the way he presented, and he gave no additional cause for concern at this time.
“Inquiries were made which revealed his registered sex offender status and restrictions.
“There was no cause or reason identified at that time to prevent his travel and, as such, he was afforded his onward journey. Witness DC Cooper notified Dundee Offender Management Unit and further inquiry was made. It was confirmed the accused had breached his SONR by failing to advise of his intended foreign travel within the required seven-day before travel period.”
Solicitor Philip Cohen, defending, said: “Arguably, he ought to have been arrested at the airport, because he was in breach of the requirements. But, for whatever reason, he wasn’t noticed on the police system and was allowed to travel.
“Nevertheless, he ended up in Mexico and was living there. He got married and lived with his wife until he was arrested on the extradition warrant in March 2019. That related to the Airdrie Sheriff Court case.
“He clearly knew what he was doing. He has not tried to evade his culpability.
“He appeared in Airdrie Sheriff Court on February 17 this year and was sentenced to 12 months prison from that date.
“What has complicated matters is that there was another case at Warwick Crown Court. That appears to have been dealt with in his absence and he was sentenced to four years imprisonment.
“He didn’t know about that, but the police officer who brought him back from Mexico mentioned it to him.
“His intention at some point is to return to Mexico when he is liberated. He is anxious to have the matter dealt with.”
Jailing Beaumont, Sheriff Alistair Carmichael said: “In all the circumstances only a custodial sentence is appropriate, which I think you know.
“I’m taking into account the circumstances of the offence and the age of it, although a lot of that is down to you because you didn’t come back to the UK.”
The SNP group on North Lanarkshire Council has a new leader after former depute Jordan Linden replaced Tom Johnston as opposition leader on the authority.
Councillor Linden was elected at the council group’s AGM last week after his predecessor informed party members he would not be seeking re-election after two years in the role.
Now the new leader will be assisted by Fiona Fotheringham as depute, while Coatbridge South member Tracy Carragher becomes secretary, and Claire Barclay replaces Paul Di Mascio of Airdrie South as business manager.
The 25-year-old, who was first elected to represent his Bellshill ward in 2017, is understood to have become the youngest leader of an SNP council grouping in Scotland.
Councillor Linden told the Advertiser: “It’s a privilege to take on the role; my commitment is to make the SNP the best it can be and the first priority for our group is to support North Lanarkshire through the Covid pandemic.
“We have a role to play in communicating our message for our great local candidates ahead of the Scottish Parliament elections
– and our eyes are already on 2022 and winning the council election and taking over as the administration of North Lanarkshire Council.
“Our entire group is utterly committed to delivering for our local communities and championing their voices; North Lanarkshire needs change and as the real opposition we will work every day to offer exactly that.”
He added: “It’s been an absolute privilege working since I was elected with David Stocks and Tom Johnston; I’ve been inspired by them and learned so much from them.
“Tom Johnston has a forensic eye for detail and I’ve learned so much from him. I’m privileged to take up the mantle and thank him for the opportunity to work with him over the past two years.”
Cumbernauld representative Councillor Johnston said he had informed colleagues that he had chosen to stand down from the leadership – which he won in 2019 after successfully challenging then-leader David Stocks, the Airdrie Central councillor – in response to personal events in recent months.
He said: “Last November I spent a full month in hospital with a recovery period thereafter; I also suffered a bereavement at Christmas.
“We spend a lot of time with our two young grandchildren, and all these factors led me to my decision not to re-stand as group leader.
“I have great confidence in the younger members of our 29-strong SNP group and have no qualms about handing over to them – I congratulate Jordan on becoming leader and look forward to him taking the SNP group into the 2022 council election.”
Labour group leader Jim Logue, whose party won two additional seats in the council chamber in the Fortissat and Thorniewood by-elections earlier this month, said the leadership change was “no surprise”.
He said: “With their budget failure last week allied to two crushing by-election defeats in one, the SNP in North Lanarkshire are in disarray. I wish Jordan Linden the best of luck in his new role – he’ll certainly need it.”
Councillor Linden replied: “I welcome the council leader’s good wishes, but the only people needing luck in the days ahead are the Labour group.
“Their budget deal shines a light on the realpolitik in North Lanarkshire, which sees Labour and Tories in cahoots.
“Our budget was one which delivered for the people of North Lanarkshire as we recover from Covid-19, and our by-election results showed huge swings to the SNP from previous Labour heartlands.”