Convicted sex offender conned Bradford mum into gaining access to her young family

Keith Bell portrayed himself to the unsuspecting woman as “a chap who could be trusted among children,” the judge locking him up said today.

Bell, 28, pleaded guilty to two offences of breaching a Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO) made at Durham Crown Court in 2013.

He also admitted simple possession of cocaine in Bradford.

Bradford Crown Court heard that the woman was seriously distressed when she found out that Bell, of Ninth Street, Blackhall Colliery, Durham, had concealed his criminal past from her.

Recorder Christopher Knox said he would be failing in his public duty to protect children if he did not send him to prison.

When the SHPO was imposed, the judge would have warned Bell what he had, and had not, to do, he said.

“You knew perfectly well that you weren’t to gain access to children through someone who did not know of your history,” he stated.

“You conned this woman into a position where you had access to her children. You portrayed yourself to her as a chap who could be trusted among children.”

Prosecutor Paul Nicholson told the court that Bell had breached a court order made on August 23, 2013.

He also had to sign on the sex offender register.

In mitigation, it was said that Bell had “limited interaction” with the children and had not committed any offences against them. He did not manipulate the situation.

He lived on his own and helped his poorly father who would suffer if he was jailed.

Recorder Knox said that an aggravating feature of the case was Bell’s persistent breach of court orders for driving offences, including driving while disqualified.

He was “contemptuous” of the orders and he was “a bad risk” when it came to complying with them.

Bell was jailed for a total of 20 months for the breaches with no separate penalty for the drugs offence.

Recorder Knox ordered that he SHPO continue in the same terms.

He made a restraining order to protect the woman and children from Bell in the future.