A CONVICTED paedophile sentenced to three months in jail for his fourth breach of a court order has been released from custody pending an appeal, Fermanagh Magistrates Court has heard.

Robert John Liddle (69), of Moorlough Road, Drumgole, Lisnaskea, pleaded guilty to breaching the Sexual Offences Prevention Order (SOPO) by being in Dunnes Stores, Enniskillen between 4pm and 4.16pm on February 10, 2017.

The court heard that Liddle is classed as a Category 2 sex offender and a SOPO was served on him in October 2014.

This order is not due to expire until October 2019, the court heard.
Under the terms of the SOPO, the defendant is not allowed to be in a shopping centre between the hours of 7am to 10am and also between 3pm and 5pm.

However, on February 10 this year, a security guard working in Dunnes observed Liddle in the store’s cafe, eating a meal between 4pm and 4.16pm that afternoon.

During a subsequent notebook interview conducted by police, the defendant made a full admission to the offence.
He told officers that he had been hungry, adding that he “forgot the time”.

Defending counsel, Heather Phillips, confirmed to the court that her client was also in breach of a suspended sentence that had been imposed in the Crown Court in March 2015.

The barrister said she didn’t want to minimise the offence, which was a breach of a court order, but added that there was no allegation that he approached, spoke to or behaved inappropriately with any children.

While Ms. Phillips conceded that the defendant did himself no favours, she said the offence was not a deliberate or flagrant breach of a court order.

The barrister explained that the terms of the SOPO were “very inhibiting” on Liddle’s ability to interact with society, adding that he was “heavily monitored” by the police and other services.

Observing that it was the defendant’s fourth breach of a court order, district judge Nigel Broderick said he just seemed to “keep pushing the envelope”.

The judge, quoting from the author of a pre-sentence report prepared in the case, said that Liddle had a “propensity to take chances and place himself in breach of the order”.

However, Ms. Phillips argued that “by and large” her client had abided by the terms of the SOPO.

Describing the defendant as “well-known” in the community, she said: “If this was in any way deliberate, it was a very unsophisticated attempt.”

When the judge observed that Liddle had breached a “specific provision” not to enter a supermarket, and asked why he did not just go to a delicatessen or sandwich shop, the barrister replied that he “habitually attended” Dunnes Stores where the selection was much wider.

In mitigation, Ms. Phillips said that the defendant had entered a guilty plea at an early opportunity and the breach was of a technical nature with no “inappropriate action”.

“There was no evidence of any children being in the vicinity or in his eyeline while he was there,” she added.

In sentencing the defendant, Mr. Broderick observed that it was not his first time before the courts for breaching the SOPO.

The judge said that, despite the best efforts and eloquent submissions of Ms. Phillips, this was a “breach too far”.

Mr. Broderick imposed a three-month jail term and a £25 offender levy.

He added that he would refer the breach of the suspended sentence back to the Crown Court.

Meanwhile, the judge later released the defendant from custody on his own bail of £500, pending an appeal against the sentence.