Mum was in relationship with sex offender without realising

A mother has discovered she was in a relationship with a sex offender.

Sally Kiely, 47, said she now “feels sick” to think of her relationship with Richard Clues, 43, as the man has been convicted of making indecent images of children. The mum of two had been dating him for around one year when she started getting suspicious about his behaviour, particularly on social media. 

Sally submitted a request under Clare’s Law – a scheme that gives any member of the public the right to ask the police if their partner may pose a risk to them.

Immediately, a police officer wanted to speak with Sally the following day.

The mum, from Kingston-upon-Thames, Greater London, said: “They asked for a description of him and were asking about the ages of my kids.

“She said police would like to speak to me but there was nothing under Clare’s Law. The other officer asked about the relationship, how long we’ve been together, whether has he been to the house, has he had any unsupervised contact with the kids.

“They said they had to see me face to face and it now came under Sarah’s Law.”

Sarah’s Law is a child sex offender disclosure scheme that allows parents, carers or guardians to formally ask the police for information about a person who has contact with their child, or a child close to them, if they’re concerned the person may pose a risk, Northants Live says.

Sally was informed that Clues had been sentenced at Northampton Crown Court over three charges of making indecent photographs or pseudo-photographs of children in January 2018.

He received 12 months imprisonment that was suspended for 24 months. Clues was also ordered to carry our 50 Rehabilitation Activity Requirement Days and placed under a Sexual Harm Prevention Order for 10 years.

But Clues failed to comply with notification requirements for the sex offenders register and was sentenced to 10 months in custody earlier this month.

He pleaded guilty at Reading Crown Court.

After observing the sentencing hearing, Sally said: “It’s when you’ve invited somebody into your home and had a relationship with them and you find out they are on the Sex Offenders Register – it’s not great at all.

“Had he told the police that he was in a relationship with me, that triggers them to contact me and it would be down to me if I wanted to continue the relationship.

“I had Kingston Council Children Services on the phone to check with me once the relationship had ended. I don’t really know how much more they can really do.

“The notification requirements are there. If he had left me alone after the breakup, none of this would have come to light. I didn’t see him in Crown Court because there was a screen.

“At Magistrates Court, we walked in together, he was in front of me. He actually looked up at me and went ‘Hello, are you alright?’ but I didn’t get seen before he went into Crown Court but I’m quite glad really.

“I didn’t know until the police came that he had two mobile phones. There’s a lot of secrecy and comes across as really, really charming. I just feel a bit sick really.

“It is really hard to know if it was genuine or not genuine. He played me brilliantly to get back together. It’s all about control and having the upper hand and being correct with him.”

Sally, who has one daughter now aged 14 and a son who is 18, met Clues in June last year at an activity group he ran.

She said: “It is a kayaking, paddleboarding and walking group. 

“I liked it and went to the next meet before he later came over and we went on the Thames. I went to other meets with him over the summer and even took my daughter to one.

“I went out with him outside the meets a few times and then we said ‘should we make a go of it?’

“He lives in his van in Northamptonshire and has his business but does other work as well. I went on several more meets and he then came to my house. He had already met my daughter when he would come here and stay here.”

“Having to talk to my kids asking if he made them uncomfortable, did he try anything, has he tried to call you – it’s awful,” she added.

But the couple split up temporarily in December last year as Sally claims he “got quite jealous” when she would “add people on Facebook” alongside other issues.

When he posted about “feeling down” on Facebook, Sally reached out asking if he was okay before they later recommenced the relationship.

She said: “During the New Year, he drove from Lincolnshire to Portsmouth where I was with my family. He quickly became very needy and had very manipulative behaviour.

“I said to him ‘your manipulation knows no bounds’ and ended it. He deleted me, refunded me for one of the meets and blocked me from his Facebook page.

“I went out with friends one evening and he was sending me screenshots of my drinks from Facebook. I could tell he had unblocked me, so I then deleted and blocked him.

“For three weeks, he was still stalking my socials and sent me a private message about something he shouldn’t have been able to see. I had seen a couple of instances of his temper.

“If you have been with somebody for a few months, to still be looking at somebody’s socials is more than a bit odd and sending them private messages.”

The mother soon became worried for her wellbeing and submitted the request for more information. You can learn more about Sarah’s Law here and Clare’s Law here.