August 2022

Child sex offender, 52, posed as fake paramedic to take sick woman to hospital

A convicted child sex offender who finds it “impossible to tell the truth” posed as a paramedic to accompany a sick woman to hospital, leaving her “terrified” when his real identity emerged.

John Lightfoot, 52, broke a court order when he pretended to be a medic called Paul, a court heard.

He took her to seek medical help and escorted her home in a taxi. The criminal even lied to a priest and repeated claims he was Paul when he was spotted with the woman.

The incident on November 12 last year left the woman, who was a victim of domestic violence, feeling ‘terrified’ 

Lightfoot was jailed for two-and-a-half years after magistrates convicted him of failing to comply with notification requirements of the sex offenders’ register.

Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court heard Lightfoot – who was convicted of a child sexual assault in 2013 – was previously handed a two-year suspended sentence for breaching the terms of a Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO) after going by the name of Jay Maddox without informing the police.

Despite registering that name with officials, Lightfoot was caught out again when he used the alias ‘Paul’ at the pub in Hanley, Stoke-on-Trent.

Mark Brookes, prosecuting, said: “A domestic violence victim was in the pub and he introduced himself as a paramedic called Paul.

“She became unwell and was taken to hospital. The defendant went with her and returned from the hospital to her address in a taxi.

“She resides in a property run by a charity. He was seen telling a priest if she came back to his house he would look after her. He was trying to manipulate her.

“On December 3, 2021, officers attended the defendant’s home and recovered documents concerning a matter of domestic violence. He told officers he did not know who she was.

“In February he was arrested at his address.” In a statement read to the court, the victim said: “He made me feel uncomfortable in the taxi. I felt anxious and terrified of him and I don’t want any contact with him.”

Stuart Muldoon, mitigating, said: “He knows he is going to go to custody and his concern is his mother who is 92-years-old. She has suffered a stroke and is in the Royal Stoke.

“He has been her carer and will be on his release. His concern is that she may no longer be around.” Sentencing, Judge David Fletcher told Lightfoot: “You are a man who simply finds lying a very easy thing to do. You find it impossible to tell the truth.

“This offence is extremely worrying and the victim was clearly vulnerable. You lied to her. You repeated that to a priest when you went back to where she was living. This is a deliberate failure to comply with requirements.”

Lightfoot, of Fielding Street, Stoke, was also handed a restraining order and will remain on a sexual harm prevention order.

July 2021

Fake name of pervert who abused child in pub toilet exposed

A paedophile who abused a child in a pub toilet was caught by police using a fake name years later.

John Lightfoot was convicted of sexual assault in 2013 after he befriended a pub worker and targeted their child in the toilets.

As a result, he was made the subject of a Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO) which prevents him from having contact with under-18s unless their parents are made aware of his conviction and he has written permission from social services.

But the 51-year-old, of Fielding Street, Stoke, breached the terms in April and May this year by using the name Jay to gain casual work in a pub without registering the name with the police.

He also bought the licensee’s child a gift before he was arrested.

Prosecutor Harpreet Sandhu told Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court: “His presence at the pub brought him into contact with the licensee’s child. He bought paints as a gift and asked the parents to give it to her.

“The defendant was arrested. He said he used the name Jay. He admitted he had not registered his use of that name with the police. He conceded he had not told the child’s parents of his previous conviction. He admitted breaching the SHPO and said he was sorry.

“His breach was persistent – 15 days.”

Lightfoot pleaded guilty to breaching a SHPO and failing to comply with notification requirements of the sex offenders’ register.

Stuart Muldoon, mitigating, said the defendant meets the requirements for the accredited sex offender programme.

He added the defendant’s mother is aged 91 and he helps with her care.

Judge David Fletcher sentenced Lightfoot to 18 months in prison, suspended for 24 months, with a rehabilitation activity requirement for 55 days and an accredited programme for 43 days.

Judge Fletcher said: “You have to co-operate with the notification requirements and the SHPO. You can’t get away from that.

“It is not there for your benefit. It is for the benefit of the community.”