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Man Escapes Jail For Sex Attacks

BBC News - 1 hour, 42 minutes ago
Source of Article

A Jehovah's Witnesss gets a community sentence for a series of sex assaults on children and adults. Porter was put on the Sex Offenders Register

A Jehovah's Witness has escaped a jail term after admitting a series of sexual assaults on children and adults in Clevedon.

Michael Porter, an elder in the religion, pleaded guilty to 24 counts of indecent assault and gross indecency on 13 victims aged 18 months and older. Among the individuals were others involved in the faith.

Judge Crowther at Bristol Crown Court sentenced Porter to three years of community rehabilitation.

Porter's sister, Tina Hughes, said: "I am absolutely disgusted. He should not have walked free.

"He has lost nothing. We have to tell the victims we have got no closure. He is an evil person. He is not human."

Porter carried out the assaults between 1986 and 2000. He was banned from working with anyone under the age of 18 and and put on the Sex Offenders Register.

Det Con Lisa Finch, of Avon and Somerset Police, said: "Many of the families involved have been completely traumatised. It has turned their lives upside down."

Porter declined to comment as he left court with his wife. He remains an elder in the religion.

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Paedophile Freed Despite Multiple Assaults


From Times Online
August 23, 2007
Source of Article
David Byers and agencies

Michael Porter, 38, of north London, who walked free today despite admitting a string of sex attacks on children.


A leading Jehovah's Witness who was branded an "evil monster" by his own sister was spared prison today, despite being convicted of 24 counts of indecent assault and gross indecency on children - one of which was committed on an 18-month-old baby.

Michael Porter, 38, of Barnet, north London, was handed a three-year community rehabilitation order despite having admitted to using his trusted position as a ministerial servant in the movement to indulge his habits as a paedophile.

At Bristol Crown Court, Judge Tom Crowther said he had opted not to jail him after hearing he had undergone therapy. As well as the community order, Porter was banned from working with anyone under the age of 18 and put on the Sex Offenders Register.

In a highly unusual move, however, Porter's sister Tina Hughes, 40, spoke out against the ruling, which she described as "ludicrous", and warned that her brother would commit further offences now he was back in society.

"He (Mr Porter) blamed his childhood for the attacks, which was a lie, but the judge ate it all up," Ms Hughes, from Clevedon, said.

"I just broke down in tears when the judge said he wasn’t going to jail. The whole courtroom went quiet. No-one could believe it.

"I can’t believe the judge thinks he is safe to be allowed out on the streets. He won’t stop. There’s no justice for the victims. No closure. He had no right to leave that court room. He has lost nothing. He’s just not human. He’s an evil monster. He can’t have a soul."

The court heard that Porter was a respected member of the Jehovah’s Witnesses in Portishead and Clevedon, when he committed his crimes.

Parents trusted him to look after their children, and Porter regularly babysat for youngsters, took them away on holidays and invited them for sleepovers at his home.

"He was in a very high position. Children loved him and parents worshipped him," Ms Hughes said. "They thought he was God’s son on earth. He was the last man they would ever suspect of doing something so horrific.

"He abused dozens of children and even a baby. But he’s still free."

Mr Porter's current Jehovah's Witness Church has stood by him despite confessing to his crimes, according to his sister. He is thought to be an elder at the Mill Hill Kingdom Hall, in Barnet, north London.

Wayne Baker, a spokesman for Avon and Somerset police, said that it was "too early to say" whether the force would be appealing against the judgment.

"There are a large number of victims to consider, many of whom just want to draw a line under the whole matter," he said.

The Crown Prosecution Service was not prepared to comment at this stage, but it is understood police officers were disappointed that only four victims were prepared to make statements against Porter.

A source said: "One of the problems was that most of the victims were not prepared to make statements or give any kind of evidence. The offences took place a long time ago and most of them seemed keen to put it all behind them."

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Attorney General may appeal against freed paedophile's sentence

Last updated at 12:44pm on 24th August 2007

Source of Article


The Attorney General today requested the case papers on freed paedophile Michael Porter so the Government can consider whether to appeal against his non-custodial sentence.

Porter, 38, of Okehampton Close, north London, was controversially handed a three-year community rehabilitation order after pleading guilty to 25 counts of indecent assault and gross indecency on young boys.

He had used his trusted position as a ministerial servant in the Jehovah's Witnesses to prey on vulnerable victims in Clevedon, Somerset, over a 14-year period.

One of his victims was an 18-month-old baby.

Judge Tom Crowther opted not to jail the self-confessed paedophile at Bristol Crown Court yesterday after hearing he had undergone therapy.

Porter was also banned from working with anyone under the age of 18 and put on the Sex Offenders Register.

But the Attorney General's Office today said it had requested the case papers so it consider launching an appeal against the sentence.

A spokeswoman said: "The Attorney General's Office has asked for the case papers so consideration can be given to whether or not to refer the sentence to the Court of Appeal.

"A decision will be taken within 28 days. No view has been reached at this early stage."

The sentence even provoked a fierce reaction from Porter's own sister.

She said the "ludicrous" punishment was an insult to his victims.

Tina Hughes, 40, from Clevedon, said: "I'm absolutely disgusted. I'm very, very angry. We thought he would get a sentence of at least 12 months.

"I think the judge was absolutely pathetic. He just took my brother's side completely and believed that all he needed was a bit more therapy and now realised he had done wrong."

She added: "He blamed his childhood for the attacks, which was a lie, but the judge ate it all up.

"I just broke down in tears when the judge said he wasn't going to jail. The whole courtroom went quiet. No-one could believe it.

"I can't believe the judge thinks he is safe to be allowed out on the streets. He won't stop.

"There's no justice for the victims. No closure. He had no right to leave that court room.

"He has a lovely life. He has a religion standing by him. He has lost nothing. He's just not human. He's an evil monster. He can't have a soul."

Avon and Somerset Police are also thought to be considering appealing against the sentence.

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