A convicted rapist, who breached a court order when he spoke to young girls waiting in line to meet X Factor star Eoghan Quigg, has walked free from court after his 10 month jail term was suspended for three years.
Tuesday, 19 October 2010
Belfast Crown Court heard that the girls were waiting in line at HMV in the city when the singer was signing copies of his album in April last year when they were approached by 39-year-old David Thomas Paige who claimed he could get them to the front of the queue.
At the time Paige, formerly from Fitzroy Avenue, was subjected to a court imposed Sexual Offences Prevention order barring him from associating with females or children after he was jailed for seven years for rape in 1998.
Prosecuting lawyer Tessa Kitson said Paige led one of the girls by the arm out of the queue but that security staff intervened and when there was "a bit of a scuffle," police were called and it then transpired that Paige was a sex offender.
She revealed it was not the first time that Paige had breached a SOPO as he had been previously dealt with in the Magistrates Court for associating with young females or living in unapproved accommodation.
In imposing the suspended sentence, Her Honour Judge Kennedy said she believed it was the best way to protect women and children as if she jailed him, he would lose his home, probably go back to drink and thereby would be "more likely to cause harm to the very people who are to be protected".
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