This Is Guernsey

A MOTHER is campaigning to have pictures of paedophiles published. Maria Crawford, proprietor of hairdresser Snips in Vauvert, has started a petition demanding that a photo of recently released offender James Brehaut and any others be released so islanders can protect their children.

Mrs Crawford is angry that Brehaut and others are able to walk the streets and live a normal life around children, unbeknown to their parents.

‘There are many schools and playschools in this area,’ she said. ‘If people know who he is, they can keep their children out of danger.

‘I know paedophilia is never going to stop, but one person might be put off doing it knowing they will be publicly shamed. I just felt I had to do it. I feel he has come out ‘of prison’ too early.

‘But my other reason is there are some children who may have been affected who haven’t talked about it. Children might see his picture and bring it up.’

More than 200 people have already signed the petition, which Mrs Crawford plans to take to Deputy Mary Lowe. She has placed copies in the Britannia and Plough pubs as well as shops in the area and hopes to take them to other local businesses.

The development has been welcomed by the father who discovered Brehaut in the bedroom of his children and by a victim of a paedophile ring which included her father.

She said: ‘It’s fantastic news. I’m pleased that people have not just read my story and forgotten it. I will obviously be signing the petition myself and I have many friends and family who will support it as well,’ she said.

She is glad it remains in the limelight and was not swept under the carpet ‘as it usually is’.

Lucy Corbin, who runs Saiko in Mill Street, has a copy of the petition in her shop.

‘I’m in two minds about it all, really. Obviously you’d want to know if these people are around, but they would get driven out and become somebody else’s problem.

‘Maybe something like a register would be better so people can look it up. Naming and shaming in the paper is a bit mob-like. A friend said that it just gives people licence to hunt these people down.’

However, the father who caught Brehaut in his young sons’ room at 4 o’clock one morning welcomed the move.

Brehaut has been released from prison after serving two-thirds of an 18-month sentence imposed for possession of child pornography and burglary.

‘I was very pleased. I would be out there myself, but I don’t want my children to be affected any more. I thank the person responsible, as a member of the community, for her efforts.

‘I can only support what the Guernsey Press has published lately. My main aim in all this was to ensure in the short term that the community was aware of the dangers from Brehaut and other paedophiles.

‘In the long term, what I hope to achieve is that a register or some way for people to know about these people is in place so that we can stop or reduce the chance of any children being put at risk.’

Deputy Lowe was unavailable for comment.