Sex offender back in prison
PAEDOPHILE DRESSED AS ELF IN PUB
Court Reporter
A SEX offender has been sent back to prison after he was caught working as an elf at a Christmas event for children.
Robert Checkley had served a custodial sentence for having indecent images of youngsters and was subject to stringent conditions as part of a sexual harm prevention order and was on the sex offenders register.
One of the conditions meant he should not have taken on a job likely to bring him into contact with children, without permission from the police.
But he started working as a barman at a pub which catered for families, without disclosing his conviction.
And when a Breakfast with Santa event was organised, the manager dressed as Father Christmas while Checkley and another staff member took on the role of elves and they served the youngsters food.
Now the 31-year-old will spend this Christmas behind bars after he was jailed for 16 months for breaching his sexual harm prevention order and sex offenders register requirements.
Newcastle Crown Court heard Checkley, of Hartford Grove, Cramlington, who was convicted of the indecent images offence in 2015, obtained employment with Greene King pubs in September 2017.
He was appointed as a barman at the Bear and Ragged Staff pub, in Kenilworth, Warwickshire.
Prosecutor Emma Dowling said: “The prosecution say it would have been obvious when he took the job he would come into contact with children. The prosecution say someone with his conviction would not have been employed.
“He didn’t tell the company about that conviction from 2015 but strangely he did tell them about a conviction he doesn’t seem to have, for violence.
“During his employment, he was front of house and would often work on his own.
“In particular, on December 17, 2017, the pub had a Breakfast with Santa event, this was an advertised event at their pub between 10am and noon.
“The defendant worked that day at the Breakfast for Santa. This defendant dressed as an elf with one other staff member while the general manager was dressed as santa.
“Children were provided with breakfast served by the the elves and santa.”
The court heard it was not until February 7 that staff became aware of Checkley’s previous conviction, as a result of a post on Facebook by his exgirlfriend.
By that time he had moved on and was working and living at a pub called the Red Arrow.
He breached his sex offender registration requirements by not telling the police where he was living.
Having been released under investigation by police, he moved to the Northumberland area, where he breached the order again by getting a job at The Range shop, in Gateshead, in July 2018, through an agency.
He failed to disclose his previous conviction to secure the job at the shop, which stocks a range of items including toys.
That came to light in August 2018 when he was stopped for drink-driving and told police where he was working.
The court heard the shop, which “assumed the agency carried out all the relevant checks”, terminated his employment.
Checkley admitted two counts of breaching his sexual harm prevention order and one of breaching his sex offenders registration requirements. Judge Sarah Mallett told him: “You put yourself off the radar and in a position where you could have committed a sexual offence.”
Richard Herrmann, defending, claimed Checkley was not asked about his conviction or given an opportunity to disclose it when getting the job in the pub, which he said he took as he was desperate and facing losing his benefits if he did not find employment.
He added that he didn’t perceive the pub as being likely to bring him into contact with children.
Mr Herrmann said Checkley was not “in any way pleased to be asked to dress as an elf ” and considered staying off sick to avoid having to do it.
He also said only a small number of youngsters turned up for it, with their parents.
Mr Hermann added Checkley had volunteered to police that he was working at The Range in the warehouse after his arrest for excess alcohol.
He told the court: “There was limited, if any, risk.”
Emma Dowling
He didn’t tell the company about that conviction but strangely he did tell them about one he doesn’t have