Daniel Greaves, a convicted sex offender, failed to disclose his history of child sex offences to his new girlfriend until Turkish border authorities prevented their entry into the country. The 34-year-old, from Ladysmith Road, Grimsby, had been convicted in December 2024 for four counts of engaging in sexual communications with a child and was placed on the Sex Offenders Register. He was also subject to a Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO) that prohibited unsupervised contact with anyone under 16.
Breaches of court order
At Grimsby Crown Court, prosecutor Craig Lowe detailed how Greaves breached the SHPO twice in early 2025. In January, he went to a pub with his new girlfriend and two children. In February, he accompanied them to a circus and was left alone with the children while the woman used the toilet. The court heard that Greaves had not informed his partner about his convictions, and she only discovered the truth when they were turned away at Turkish border control during a holiday. She then alerted the police.
Mr Lowe stated: "He had not told anyone about his convictions and he was a registered sex offender." The original offences involved Greaves communicating with decoys operated by paedophile hunters, who posed as 13- and 14-year-old girls. He sent messages requesting photographs, suggested meetings, and in one instance proposed they shower together and offered to have sex with a decoy.
Defence and sentencing
Michele Stuart-Lofthouse, defending, presented a letter from Greaves expressing "true remorse" and noted that the outings occurred in public settings with no harm caused. However, Judge Richard Woolfall emphasised the seriousness of the breaches, stating that Greaves was "extremely fortunate" not to have faced more severe charges for the original communications.
The judge remarked: "You were discussing with your probation officer that you were in a relationship and going on a date. You were asked if you had informed her of your previous conviction. You told it was not the right time, so probation gave you time and said that if you did not the police would." He added that Greaves failed to inform his probation officer that children were involved in the relationship. Highlighting the trip to the circus where he was left alone with children, the judge called the conditions of an SHPO "non-negotiable" and designed to protect children.
Judge Woolfall sentenced Greaves to 10 months in prison, noting the breach of trust and the risk posed to children.
