PAEDOPHILE CASE: CAMPAIGNER Sara Payne whose daughter Sarah was killed by sex offender Roy Whiting says a new law giving details of paedophiles living in the community would help stop serial paedophiles like Craig Taylor of Eldene from preying on children.
Speaking exclusively to the Advertiser, Sara spoke of her disgust at Taylor's crimes, and reiterated why she believes communities should know if sex offenders are moved to their area.
Sara was horrified when we told her how 44-year-old Taylor was able to abuse two teenage boys despite having previous convictions for sexual assaults on youngsters.
As we reported yesterday, Taylor of Stubsmead, was convicted on Tuesday at Swindon Crown Court of the sex attacks after previously being locked up twice for similar crimes.
After serving his second jail term he headed to Swindon, changed his name and started abusing boys again. His neighbours were unaware of his crimes.
The 44-year-old groomed the children before carrying out depraved acts on them.
"If he had previous convictions, why wasn't he being monitored more closely?" Sara asked echoing the views of Taylor's neighbours.
"If the community had known about his past, I'm sure the parents of these boys wouldn't have let him go to his house.
"Neighbourhoods have the right to know about these people."
She has been campaigning for details of sex offenders to be made public since her eight-year-old daughter Sarah was killed by a convicted sex offender in July 2000, giving the campaign the title Sarah's Law.
Roy Whiting, 42, was eventually jailed for life for the murder, which shocked the country.
The Home Office has always resisted calls for the so-called Sarah's Law because of fears about vigilante action which could force offenders underground.
But Sara doesn't believe naming paedophiles would lead to mob rule on the streets.
"If you know the person who burgled your house you could go around and beat them up, but that's not an excuse for not naming burglars," she said.
"I am not condoning vigilante action, and anyone who takes the law into their hands should face the full force of the criminal justice system.
"But communities would be safer if we knew where these people are."
According to the latest figures, there are currently 255 registered sex offenders living in Wiltshire.
More than 200 are classed as possibly violent according to the National Probation Service.
Sara, of West Sussex, doesn't believe offenders are monitored closely enough when they are released from jail.
Taylor changed his name on two occasions after being found guilty of abusing youngsters in the past.
"I have met with chief police officers and we have managed to get controls tightened," said Sara.
"But there is still more to be done.
"So many of these people are being let out and the controls are not tight enough because it is too expensive."
Taylor is now awaiting sentence, and could face life behind bars.
One of his victims has cerebral palsy and learning difficulties.
He was 16 at the time Taylor abused him, but had a mental age of eight.
The other victim was 15.
Speaking after the verdict, the father of the disabled boy backed calls for a Sarah's Law.
He said: "If I had known about his previous crimes I would never have allowed my son to go and see him."
Families living near the pervert spoke of their horror when they learned about Taylor's past, saying they should have been told.
Tamash Lal
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereComments are closed on this article