Hunt for missing child sex offender
POLICE are hunting a convicted sex offender who has moved out of his Plymouth home without informing them of his new address, and have added his details to a website of most wanted paedophiles.
Jason Waller was convicted of indecent assaults in January 2000 and sentenced to three years in prison.
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After release he was ordered to notify police if he intended to change his address, but officers have now revealed they have had no contact with Waller since March.
This means he has failed to comply with requirements under the Sexual Offences Act.
Waller, 33, was convicted of offences committed on three children who were known to him in 1999.
Since 2006 he has slept rough or in a tent at several locations around Devon, including Torquay, Brixham, Plymouth and Tavistock.
After one breach in 2006 he told Exeter Crown Court he was living in a tent on Maidencombe beach at Watcombe, Torquay, but when police checked his ‘address’ he had disappeared.
He was subsequently arrested for begging in Guildford and returned to Devon because he had been circulated as a wanted sex offender.
Police in Devon and Cornwall have exhausted all possible lines of enquiry regarding Waller and are now appealing to the public to come forward if they have any knowledge of his whereabouts.
Det Supt John Clements, head of public protection at Devon and Cornwall Constabulary said: “By going missing, the risk that Waller poses to children has increased.
“So far, we have done our level best to find him through conventional police means and now we now want to extend our hunt for him and using the power of the internet to do just that.”
Waller is likely to be living a nomadic lifestyle and begging as a source of income, which he has done in the past.
Police checks show he has had no contact with family, nor sought medical treatment, nor has he a driving license or a passport.
Tax office records show he has not worked. His details have been circulated to all police forces across the country and have so far drawn a blank.
Police financial investigations have also proved negative which suggests that it is likely he will be sleeping rough somewhere or is being housed by someone.
Waller’s details have also been circulated to CEOP, the Child Exploitation and Online Protection Centre, for dissemination.
He has also been featured on the Crimestoppers website since May, without success.
A police spokesman said: "Our extensive enquiries have failed to locate Waller and so we are appealing to the public for any information regarding his whereabouts."
Anyone with any information regarding Waller is asked to contact police immediately on 08452 777444 or Cimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555111 quoting ref ED/09/2243.
23 Comments
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by Kate, Plymouth
Wednesday, December 09 2009, 7:18PM
“Firstly, I never mentioned anything about the efficacy of castration. Secondly - you are right, attempting to understand the sort of psychological dysfunction which creates a paedophile will not help victims (that job is for councillors, psychologists, families and friends etc). What delving into the mind of a paedophile may do however, is provide us with the knowledge to prevent him from committing the same crime again and creating more victims. Ultimately you cannot change the past - if someone is a victim of a paedophile the best you can do for them is help them to cope with and move on from their experience. Killing/branding/hunting down the man who hurt them will achieve nothing in the long run. All it will ultimately do, is to satisfy the (totally understandable) feelings of anger they may hold and allowing each individual to wreak their own vengeance in that way is utterly useless on a broad scale and will not take away the hurt, rage and fear a victim feels (even though in the moment it seems like the ideal solution). Incidentally - I speak from experience as a former 'victim'.”
by Jo, Plymouth
Wednesday, December 09 2009, 9:50AM
“I am really interested to know Kate how you think the victims feel about your "lets try an understand why you are an animal" attitude. What exactly does this achieve? does it stop them? Do they extend any understanding to there victims?Tell me why you think castration wouldn't work? You people sicken me to the core, it is because of people like you, monsters like him are able to walk the streets!”
by Kate, Plymouth
Tuesday, December 08 2009, 10:10PM
“Ok, where to begin - yes it is worrying that he has gone off the radar and no-one knows his whereabouts. However, burning their crimes onto their foreheads will achieve nothing, and 'name & shame' campains just enable misguided, ill-informed and frankly unintelligent people to take the law into their own hands and use it to justify their own personal vendettas and anger. What needs to happen is for there to be a greater understanding of how a sex offender becomes what he is, how to stop him becoming so in the first place and more effective laws regarding the monitoring of offenders' whereabouts once released from prison - especially if they are living like this man has been and are essentially non-existant in most official records due to homelessness etc.
Labelling someone as a monster/animal/evil etc proves nothing except our fear at the fact we really dont understand why they do what they do. Treating them like animals and monsters may lessen our fear and anger but ultimately has little or no effect on the actual problem in hand.”
by hach, plymouth
Tuesday, December 08 2009, 6:28PM
“oh dear oh dear!! they should never be let out of prison for 1 and 2 hope hes gone off and done himself in all the kiddies safety!! yeah and thanx for infoming the residence of plymouth 8months later should name and shame so we know where the sickos live!!!”
by Han, location
Tuesday, December 08 2009, 4:24PM
“Just a slight problem with what you are suggesting Ian. The vast majority of child abuse happens in the home and the perps are usually family and close friends.
So its probably safer for kids to play outside now.”
by ian, Plymouth
Tuesday, December 08 2009, 2:13PM
“Don`t blame the Police they don`t make the law or the shabby justice system. Sadly they just catch criminals and despite getting all the evidence usually just watch them walk. Depressing.”
by ian, Plymouth
Tuesday, December 08 2009, 2:11PM
“There you go kids - play outside at your peril - this is the state that pinko liberal attitudes have left the country in.
If this nonce and others like him were locked away and the key thrown away. All children could probably play a lot safer.
Only takes one more childs life to be ruined to show this reporting system up as a complete failure.”
by The facts, Plymouth
Tuesday, December 08 2009, 1:04PM
“Name: Jason Elton John WALLER
Sex: Male
Age Range: 30 - 35
Height: 170 - 175 cm (approx 5' 8")
Build: Large
Hair Colour: Light brown
Hair type: Receding
Hair length: Short
Ethnic appearance: White European
Distinguishing marks: WALLER's last known address was in the Plymouth area, however WALLER has spent a significant amount of time living rough in various parts of the UK. WALLER has a tattoo on left arm - a scroll with the name 'Joanne' on it. He has a West Country accent. He has been known to have previously had a moustache and a beard.”
by Read the f#####g article!, earth
Tuesday, December 08 2009, 9:36AM
“"no contact with Waller since March.", "on the Crimestoppers website since May." Not eight months, 91 days at the most or maybe 32 days. Facts people not rubbishing the police!”
by Dave, Plymouth
Monday, December 07 2009, 9:21PM
“Well Done Devon and Cornwall Constabulary, wait 8 months to tell the Public that this sicko is wanted. You wont find him if no one knows your looking for him!!!!!!!!!!!
MUPPETS!!!!!!!!!”