‘sexual predator’ is back behind bars

A man described by a judge as a “sexual predator” has been jailed for trying to attack women in Leamington.

Karl Townsend was jailed for two years, with an extended period on licence after his release lasting until March 2023.

But the judge told him that if he could put him on licence from prison for life, he would do so.

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The 39-year-old - formerly of Emscote Road, Warwick, and later of Christine Ledger Square, Leamington - had pleaded guilty at Warwick Crown Court to two charges of sexual assault and two breaches of a sexual offences prevention order.

He was also ordered to register as a sex offender for ten years, although he is already subject to registration for life as a result of an earlier offence of indecent assault.

Prosecutor Denis Desmond said the sexual offences prevention order, banning Townsend from approaching or following women in the street, had been imposed by magistrates last year for handing leaflets of an erotic nature to women in the street.

He was later jailed for six months for handing out similar leaflets in breach of the order.

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Then on March 21 this year Townsend, after drinking in Leamington town centre, was walking home along Clemens Street when he followed a woman down a side street, came up behind her and touched her on the back, asking her to perform a sex act on him. The frightened woman ran off before calling the police.

A CCTV operator followed Townsend on camera as he then walked down Aylesford Street where he was seen following two young women who crossed over and quickened their pace. But he also crossed the road, and when he caught up with them he grabbed one of them, making the same indecent proposition, and there was a brief struggle before she got away.

Mr Desmond pointed out that Townsend had a history of committing sexual offences going back to 1997 when he was put on probation for indecent assault.

That followed an incident in Nuneaton when he grabbed a woman and tried to kiss her . Then in 1998, he was jailed for four years for three offences of indecent assault.

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In 2002, after moving to Warwick, he was jailed for five years for indecently assaulting a 21-year-old woman after grabbing her as she walked past the parish church in Leamington.

Judge Alan Parker told Townsend: “You have the most disturbing history of sexual misconduct. I am perfectly satisfied you represent a danger to women.

“You are a sexual predator who has demonstrated your ingenuity in engineering contact with women in a number of ways.”

Under the extended sentence Townsend will remain on licence for eight years after the two-year custodial sentence has expired, during which he can be returned to prison if his behaviour gives any cause for concern.

And the judge added: “I would not hesitate to extend the sentence for your whole life if I had the power to do so.”