Wednesday 17 November 2010
12- MONTH PRISON SENTENCE FOR MISSING CONVICTED CHILD SEX OFFENDER
A 57 year old man from Hamilton, Scotland has been sentenced to 12 months imprisonment for breaching his Sexual Offenders Register notification requirements.
He was located and arrested after appearing on the Child Exploitation and Online Protection (CEOP) Centre’s Most Wanted website, which was launched four years ago today.
Fraser Benjamin McLaughlin, who had previously been convicted of child sexual abuse offences, was arrested by the Garda in Dublin in September 2010 after fleeing Scotland and failing to meet his Sexual Offender Register requirements. He was also wanted for failing to answer bail in relation to previous child abuse image offences. He was sentenced at Hamilton Sheriff Court on Thursday 11 November 2010.
McLaughlin was the 21st offender to be posted on the Most Wanted website, bringing the total number of offenders arrested since the site was launched four years ago to 19. The 21 offenders have been missing for a combined total of 63 years.
Since its launch on the 17 November 2006, over 3,000 members of the public have registered via the site to receive updates when new offenders’ details are posted and they have had a direct impact on the results that have been seen, as 75% of the missing offenders were located within three months.
Jim Warnock, Head of Intelligence at the CEOP Centre says: “The sentencing of this individual shows that law enforcement agencies will continue to work together, ensuring that child sexual offenders are held to account for their actions.
“The success of the Most Wanted website is as a result of the public working with law enforcement agencies, both in the UK and internationally. I would encourage people to continue to register for updates via www.ceop.police.uk/wanted so that together we can make children safer wherever they may be.”
Detective Inspector David Tassie from Strathclyde Police continues: “I would recommend the services of the CEOP Centre to all Senior Investigating Officers who are involved in locating missing child sex offenders. The Most Wanted website is a powerful tool and in this instance provided a valuable service that led to the quick detection of a high- risk Sex Offender, who is now serving a substantial prison sentence.”
