Sex pest walks free

A JUDGE has allowed a sex offender who systematically abused a 12-year-old boy in the 1990s to walk free.

Michael Jeffries (30), of Balfour Street, Clarksfield, who was himself a child at the time, only stopped the abuse when his victim started college.

But on his return, Jeffries had consensual sexual contact with his then victim.

Teesside Crown Court heard how the boy complied when Jeffries asked him to touch him indecently.

The offences, which happened in Hartlepool, were eventually reported to the police, although it is not known how and why the complaint was instigated.

The victim was first interviewed in March, 2008, but he said he did not want to complain or others to know about his ordeal.

When Jeffries was arrested, he initially denied any wrong-doing, but later admitted nine charges of indecency with a child.

He was given a a nine-month suspended jail sentence.

Judge Peter Fox, also ordered him to undergo two years of probation supervision and to attend a sex offenders’ treatment programme.

The judge told Jeffries: “When you were a child, you began to offend against another child.

“That continued for a number of years.

“Such offending might not have seemed serious to you at the time, but its consequences to the child should not be underestimated.”

Paul Cleasby, defending, said Jeffries’ apparent lack of understanding seemed to come from the fact the victim initially did not want to complain.

He added: “There had been no falling out between them, but it doesn’t excuse the way he initiated the abuse against that young boy.”

Jefffries was ordered to sign the sex offenders’ register for five years.