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System 'failed with paedophile' Systems 'failed with paedophile'
(about 3 hours later)
A girl who was raped by a man who was on the sex offenders' register was "failed" by procedures designed to supervise him, an inquiry has found. An inquiry has found the rape of a young girl by a registered sex offender "could have been prevented".
BBC News has seen a report prepared by the Brighton and Hove Safeguarding Children Board into Kevin Hazelwood. A review into the case of Kevin Hazelwood, 40, from Brighton, East Sussex, concluded systems intended to supervise him had failed.
The 40-year-old, from Brighton in East Sussex, was jailed indefinitely in April after admitting the rapes. Hazelwood was being monitored by police, probation and child services officials after a child internet porn conviction in 2002.
He carried out the attacks over a three-year period. They began in 2002 when the girl was just five. But in the same year he began abusing the girl, then aged just five.
Hazelwood was convicted that year of accessing child pornography on the internet. He admitted repeatedly raping her over a three-year period.
The report highlights that there can be no guarantee of absolute safety from devious, manipulative people who are hell-bent on getting round child protection systems Chairman David Hawker He was placed under police and probation supervision but was still able to befriend the girl's mother and win her trust. Hazelwood was jailed indefinitely in April this year and told he would have to serve at least five years and seven months in prison.
The board's inquiry identified a "gap" in the system between monitoring a sex offender's behaviour and looking after the welfare of individual children within their families. The report highlights that there can be no guarantee of absolute safety from devious, manipulative people who are hell-bent on getting round child protection systems David Hawker, chair of the Safeguarding Children Board
None of the agencies involved extended their assessment to children other than Hazelwood's own. A review group was set up to report back to the Brighton and Hove Local Safeguarding Children Board (LSCB).
Chairman David Hawker said steps had since been taken "concerning the protection of children within the wider community". The inquiry was carried out by children's services representatives from East Sussex County Council and Brighton and Hove City Council.
"The report highlights that there can be no guarantee of absolute safety from devious, manipulative people who are hell-bent on getting round child protection systems," he added. Members of Sussex Police, Sussex Probation Area, the NSPCC and the local health service were also involved.
Mr Hawker also said that "professionals involved in the case acted in accordance with the relevant procedures", but that some aspects of those procedures needed improving. Hazelwood's own baby son was kept safe from harm, but "a gap" in procedures meant "connections were not made to the threat posed to children in the community, other than the perpetrator's own child", the inquiry concluded.
Hazelwood was told he must serve a minimum jail term of five years and seven months. "It is obvious that none of the agencies significantly extended their information gathering, assessment and investigations beyond the immediate family," the report stated.
He admitted six rapes, two attempted rapes, three sexual assaults and two indecent assaults against the same girl. That led to Hazelwood being able to befriend his victim's mother and win her trust.
Improve procedures
David Hawker, chair of the LSCB, said he accepted the report's findings, but added steps had already been taken towards making better links between sex offender supervision and "the protection of children within the wider community".
He said "professionals involved in the case acted in accordance with the relevant procedures", but some aspects of those procedures needed improving.
Mr Hawker added: "The report highlights that there can be no guarantee of absolute safety from devious, manipulative people who are hell-bent on getting round child protection systems."
Hazelwood admitted six rapes, two attempted rapes, three sexual assaults and two indecent assaults against the same girl.