Aldermaston villagers successfully block paedophile Mervyn Palmer’s return to area

A PAEDOPHILE who broke court orders has been sent to prison – because villagers objected to him living among them.

A judge said she had originally considered suspending his sentence.

A previous sentencing hearing was adjourned to explore the viability of that outcome.

But local residents – who read a report of his offending in the Newbury Weekly News and Newburytoday – then protested to his landlord, Reading Crown Court heard on Tuesday, May 13.

His landlord declined to have him back.

Consequently, 57-year-old Mervyn Palmer, who had been living at Wrays Farm, Rag Hill, Aldermaston, was sent to prison.

Eric Jeffrey, prosecuting, said Palmer had been given a suspended prison sentence for child sex offences involving grooming at Oxford Crown Court in 2022.

He was also made subject to a Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO).

Palmer admitted four counts of breaching the order by failing to declare internet-enabled devices and by failing to notify police of a laptop in his possession.

Those offences were committed in Aldermaston on various dates last year.

He further admitted failing to inform police of his contact with children in another region on various dates last year.

Judge Rachel Drake described the breaches as “very serious offences” involving direct contact with real children which had caused great distress to the family concerned when they discovered Palmer should have had no unsupervised access to their youngsters.

He had also breached the order by downloading chat apps then deleting the subsequent messages so police could not monitor them.

Partly because of Palmer’s health condition, which will require regular kidney dialysis going forward, Judge Drake said she had considered suspending the inevitable prison sentence.

But Josh Bibby, for Palmer, told the court: “Because of press coverage his landlord came under pressure from local residents to no longer allow Mr Palmer to live there.”

Consequently, he added, the probation service could not offer to manage Palmer in the community, without a suitable and stable home address.

Nevertheless, he pleaded: “Your Honour may consider the pressure and stress (that arranging security for kidney dialysis treatment visits) will put on the prison service.

“He would have to be escorted by several prison officers.”

But Judge Drake said: “These are very serious offences.

“He was given the SHPO for attempting to meet a child following sexual grooming.”

She told Palmer: “In the most serious breach you had contact with … children over a long weekend.

“This was extremely serious and distressing for the family.

“I accept that a custodial environment will make your treatment more difficult and the current custodial climate will make it even more challenging.”

Nevertheless, she sentenced Palmer to 16 months imprisonment.

Because of his landlord’s decision, prompted by local residents’ reaction, she said, “probation are unable to recommend a realistic alternative to custody”.

With early release, and taking into account time spent in custody on remand.

Palmer will be due for release in four months, whereupon approved premises will be found for him to live in, the court heard.

Meanwhile Palmer remains subject to the SHPO until 2032 and remains on the Sex Offenders Register.