Wife of sex offender hounded from estate after neighbours discover husband’s past

View the article here

04/23/2007

THE wife of a sex offender from Whitehaven has been hounded out of her home after neighbours discovered her husband’s past.

Keith Hinde’s wife was threatened by residents near their home in Grammerscroft, Millom, after they found out Hinde’s background.

It was even alleged that during his stay on the estate Hinde had babysat for local children whose parents had no idea that he was on the sex offenders’ register.

Sally Atkinson, who lives two doors away, said: “We had no idea about his past when they first arrived. Everyone on the estate was friendly towards them – he even babysat for local families. But then we learned of his past.”

In January this year Hinde was jailed for 18 months and banned from ever having anything to do with children after being found guilty of abusing a woman with learning difficulties. After the case police had to move his family from Whitehaven to a safe house in Millom to avoid ‘hate’ repercussions.

A judge at Carlisle Crown Court said at the time of his conviction he was “extremely concerned” that, while 43-year-old Keith Hinde had no previous convictions for sex crimes, he had been criticized in official reports for “inappropriate behavior with children”.

The court heard that in 2001 he was found not guilty of gross indecency with a boy.

As a result Hinde was banned indefinitely from having unsupervised access to anyone under 18, banned from living in any house with young people in it and banned from working with children.

He was also ordered to register with the police as a sex offender for 10 years.

Acting Detective Inspector Cliff Walker said: “Cumbria Constabulary are fully aware of Keith Hinde’s offending history and status. On his release from prison he will be subject of the appropriate monitoring processes in accordance with current legislation.

“We are aware of recent issues surrounding the housing of an individual in the Millom area, this individual has now been relocated due to some community tension.

“Cumbria Constabulary and Probation Service work with other agencies to put in place measures to protect the public when offenders are housed in any community by ensuring such offenders are identified and managed. Public protection is the absolute priority.”

DI Walker said that it was the police and other agencies that decided to move Mrs Hinde from her home and that she had not asked to be moved.