A mum said she 'hasn't slept' after her neighbour was caught with a stash of indecent images of children - and bailed by a court to return home.
Christopher Price was found with 237 indecent images of children after police raided his home in Middleport, StokeonTrentLive reports. The 27-year-old defendant has admitted being responsible for the indecent content found on his device and has told police that he would carry out a sex act when viewing the material.
He is now awaiting sentence after after pleading guilty at North Staffordshire Justice Centre to three counts of making indecent images of children; possessing an extreme pornographic image; and possessing a prohibited image of a child.
Now mum-of-one Harriet Lakin - who lives with her six-year-old son Harry - is furious that Price is back living next door to her as he awaits his sentencing hearing. She said that the area is 'full of children' and that she does not understand why he is being allowed to live a 'normal life'.
Harriet, aged 29, said: "I read the case from the magistrates' court in The Sentinel. It was a massive shock to the system and to everybody in the area. I have a six-year-old and they are letting him live next door. Until at least his sentencing date, he can be at that house and we don't know when he is due to be sentenced. He has been bailed to that address by the court.
"There are several young families in this street. Why have the courts placed someone like that in an area that is so full of children? I thought they would have the decency to keep him away from an area that's full of children. Parents need to know what he is. He's very dangerous.
"I'm disgusted and angry, I haven't slept since I found out. It has destroyed my mental health. I've done nothing but cry and I've not eaten. I've had to force food down me.
"He is just living his normal life, hanging washing out, going to the shops, and going out in his car. Whereas the rest of us have to live in fear, fear of our children being watched.
"His bedroom window overlooks my back garden. Me and Harry haven't been in the garden since. He couldn't play outside during the Easter holidays.
"I won't even open my back door because of it. Even seeing him hanging his washing out sends me into a panic attack. The garden is our sanctuary and that sanctuary has been taken away.
"I've had to get a quote for a higher fence for £1,800, I've paid £450 for two gazebos and I've paid for more CCTV. I've had to fork out, but as long as it keeps my boy safe, I don't care.
"I've had to tell him that he's not allowed in the garden because I've put poison down for the ants. I won't let him out until the gazebos are up. I'm going to strategically place them so my son can enjoy being in the garden. I don't want him to see Harry. My son is in a prison.
"I'm also worried that other parents won't allow their children to come to my house, so Harry will miss out on having his friends over. It's going to have a detrimental effect.
"We were hoping to buy this house, but we won't be doing that anymore. I'm considering moving house."
Harriet says 'paedo' has been graffitied on Price's home since his court appearance. It is understood that he was briefly moved into a safehouse for three days, but has since moved back to the property.
Harriet says she is also concerned that people may target the wrong address. She added: "Somebody graffitied 'paedo' on his house. Harry can read and he asked 'what's paedo?'. I just made something up. I'm worried about people getting the wrong house. I don't know how we are going to get through this. I want him out. It's a living nightmare."
Harriet has raised her concerns with Stoke-on-Trent City Council and attended her local councillor's surgery to highlight the issue. The Ministry of Justice says individuals placed on the Sex Offenders' Register 'face strict conditions'.
A Government spokesman said: "While the decision to grant bail is solely a matter for independent judges, individuals placed on the Sex Offenders’ Register face strict conditions and can be prosecuted for breaking them."
Staffordshire Police say convicted sex offenders 'undergo intensive monitoring and risk assessments to manage them wherever they live'. A spokeswoman said: "In the circumstances as described, the police can only dictate where someone resides if an immediate risk is identified to a particular individual. However, anyone who is convicted as a sex offender automatically becomes subject to management by the force’s sex offender management unit.
"They then undergo intensive monitoring and risk assessments to manage them wherever they live. This management is always focussed first and foremost on keeping the public safe."
