UK government ministers are considering tightening legislation to prevent convicted sex offenders from changing their names to conceal their criminal pasts following revelations that a former firefighter used up to 20 aliases across Britain.
The move follows details disclosed by the Daily Mail showing how 50-year-old convicted sex offender Jason Brown adopted new identities as soon as he was caught while moving around the country preying on women and children.
Brown was convicted last week of breaching a Sexual Harm Prevention Order for the 12th time after authorities caught him holding hands with a nine-month-old girl. During his legal proceedings, it emerged that he had changed his name from Seb Coe while mid-prosecution.
Legal tactics and court proceedings
The former firefighter had been scheduled to stand trial last year for the Sexual Harm Prevention Order breach alongside separate proceedings for rape and sexual assault.
Brown initially indicated he would plead guilty to the breach to sever the charge from his rape trial, a move designed to prevent jurors in the rape case from learning about his prior sex offence convictions. He was later acquitted of the rape and sexual assault charges.
After his acquittal, Brown reversed his position and denied breaching the order. However, he was forced to enter a guilty plea at Lincoln Crown Court after his defence lawyer stated she could no longer represent him if he maintained his innocence despite having provided solicitors with a confession. He is scheduled to be sentenced for the breach next month.
Government review of notification laws
In the UK legal system, a Sexual Harm Prevention Order is a civil court order designed to protect the public by placing restrictions on individuals convicted of sexual offences. Lincoln Crown Court, located in Lincolnshire, hears major criminal cases in eastern England. Under UK notification requirements, registered sex offenders are required by law to inform police of any change of name.
Addressing the case, a spokesperson for 10 Downing Street, the official residence and executive office of the UK Prime Minister, confirmed that ministers are open to updating the legal framework.
"Registered sex offenders are required to notify the police of any change of name," the No 10 spokesman said yesterday. "If we need to strengthen the rule around this, we will."
