A PENSIONER from Pembroke Dock was remanded in custody at Haverfordwest Magistrates Court on Wednesday.
Barry William Hollingsworth, 71, of Old Coronation School, Meyrick Street admitted to one charge of breaching a Sex Offenders Order. The order, issued by Chester Crown Court following a previous conviction, prevents Hollingsworth going to a place frequented by children under the age of 18.
The prosecutor told the court:
“Between July 18 and July 21 the defendant was at Heatherton seeking to approach a child which was a breach of the order imposed in Chester on June 25, 2009.”
“Hollingsworth is a registered sex offender who in 2004 was found guilty of three charges of indecent assault against a five year old girl. He had befriended her family when he was a Meals-on-Wwheels delivery driver, regularly dropping off hot meals to the girl’s grandmother.”
“In 2009 he exposed his penis to a 7 year old girl, and indecent images were found on his personal computer. He was jailed, but released on August 24, 2012. Detective Constable Lovett was appointed as his dedicated police officer to supervise his behaviour post release, and he was further subject to notification requirements.”
The prosecutor continued: “On July 25 this year, police received a telephone call from Andrew McDonald at Heatherton reporting the suspicious behaviour of a male on his own, that male being the same man who had aroused the suspicions of a customer the previous week. Witnesses had observed Hollingsworth avidly watching children.”
“Another witness had said that the same man had been watching children for prolonged periods of time. A Heatherton employee had noted that Hollingsworth had followed a party of school children to the Scalextric track at around 3pm on July 19. Hollingsworth had been standing about 1 metre to 1.5 metres away from a young girl” he said.
“The police approached Hollingsworth and after they carried out a computer check realised that he was in breach of an order. He was arrested and conveyed to Haverfordwest police station.
In interview, Hollingsworth told police: “I was watching them and having fun. I get mentally aroused by girls of between 8 and 10 years old. I have fantasies of touching them and cuddling those youngsters.”
“This man should be remanded in custody” the prosecutor concluded.
Defending solicitor Phillip Huxtable from Wilson Devonald Swansea said:
“I concur that my client should be remanded in custody. He has 20 convictions, including 7 of a sexual nature. Most of his recent offending has been of a sexual nature. Your sentencing powers for this breach of order are six months in the magistrates’ court but five years in the crown court.”
Hollingsworth was remanded in custody to be sentenced at Swansea Crown Court on November 22.
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