A sex offender has been jailed after approaching two young girls in a UK town centre, following them while quizzing them about feet and footwear.
Samuel Creed, 26, was handed a custodial sentence after engaging in sexual communication with teenage girls and breaching a sexual harm prevention order (SHPO). Police found evidence of sexual communication with two teenage girls, where Creed would ask them questions about footwear and ask for photos of their feet.
Concerning behaviour in public
Police identified the victims, who said they had met with Creed in a public place and that he had displayed concerning behaviour by encouraging them to use him as a footrest and smelling their shoes.
Creed, formerly of Belle Vue Road in Sudbury, Suffolk, appeared at Ipswich Crown Court on Friday (November 6), charged with six offences: two counts of sexual communication with a child, two counts of causing/inciting a child to engage in sexual activity, breaching a sexual harm prevention order and burglary.
Sentence and compensation
Creed was handed an extended licence totalling five years, comprising two years' imprisonment and three years on licence. Alongside his sentence, he was ordered to pay £228 in compensation to the burglary victim and remains subject to a SHPO. An additional order was issued for the destruction of Creed's mobile phone.
Suffolk Constabulary's Public Protection Unit Supervisor Louise Kersey said: "Samuel Creed has not been deterred by being arrested or having conditions imposed upon him by the court. He has continued to commit further offences and has shown a flagrant disregard for the orders that have been imposed to protect the public."
Police response
Kersey added: "I would like to thank my colleagues in the Public Protection Unit and everyone who has worked on this investigation, especially West CID and in particular the officer in charge of the case, DC Oliver Canfer. Through joint working we have ensured a sexual predator is now behind bars and no longer poses a threat to the public."
She concluded: "Suffolk Constabulary takes the management of sex offenders very seriously and we will take robust action against those who fail to comply with their court orders."
