Paedophile who let woman and young child stay in his home.

Sex Offender Jailed for Breaching Order and Inviting Woman and Child to Home

Robert Mills, of Burberry Court, Littleport, has been sent back to prison after being found to have "blatantly ignored" the conditions of his Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO). Mills invited a woman and her young son to stay at his home without disclosing his previous convictions for child sex offences.

In 2017, Mills was convicted of possessing 5,879 indecent images of children and sentenced to three years in prison. He was also given an SHPO, placed on the Sex Offenders Register indefinitely, and required to notify the police of any changes to his circumstances, including who was staying at his home.

The 48-year-old began messaging the woman in the summer of 2021 and she started staying at his home regularly in September. Mills failed to inform the police about the woman and child's presence, which constituted a breach of his SHPO. He also did not disclose his previous convictions to the woman.

The woman contacted police on September 22, 2021, after discovering Mills' previous convictions. He admitted to breaching the SHPO and failing to comply with the Sex Offenders Register requirements at Cambridge Crown Court on Thursday, March 17.

Mills was jailed for an additional two years and four months for these offenses. DC Andrew McKeane of Cambridgeshire Constabulary stated that Mills had hoped to conceal his breach of the SHPO from police.

"Mills was fully aware of the obligations of his SHPO and the notification requirements but chose to blatantly ignore them in the hope police would not find out. Thankfully the woman was able to confirm to police that the child had at no point been left alone in his company," said DC McKeane.

The case highlights the importance of Sarah's Law, police guidance introduced following the murder of Sarah Payne in 2000 by a convicted sex offender. Sarah's Law signposts people to the Child Sex Offender Disclosure Scheme, which allows members of the public to ask the police if someone who has contact with children poses a risk.

"If you're starting a new relationship and have children, please contact police and make a disclosure application to ensure the person isn't posing a risk," urged DC McKeane.