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Sexual predator John Cronin's case to be investigated | Sexual predator John Cronin's case to be investigated |
(about 1 hour later) | |
An MP has been promised government action to deal with notorious sex offender John Cronin. | An MP has been promised government action to deal with notorious sex offender John Cronin. |
Cronin, from Tranent, East Lothian, who often posed as a Catholic priest, recently returned to Scotland after his release from prison in Northern Ireland. | Cronin, from Tranent, East Lothian, who often posed as a Catholic priest, recently returned to Scotland after his release from prison in Northern Ireland. |
The 41-year-old has committed more than 50 offences, including serious sex offences, dishonesty and fraud. | |
The offences were committed in Scotland, Ireland and Birmingham. | The offences were committed in Scotland, Ireland and Birmingham. |
He does not appear on the sex offenders register because his sex crimes took place before it was introduced. | He does not appear on the sex offenders register because his sex crimes took place before it was introduced. |
But now Scots-born MP Steve McCabe, Birmingham Selly Oak, has urged Justice Minister Chris Grayling to take action. | But now Scots-born MP Steve McCabe, Birmingham Selly Oak, has urged Justice Minister Chris Grayling to take action. |
Dangerous man | Dangerous man |
He has asked the minister to "look urgently" at the case and told the House of Commons that Cronin was a "sexual predator". | He has asked the minister to "look urgently" at the case and told the House of Commons that Cronin was a "sexual predator". |
He said: "He has now been released on licence, broken the terms of that licence and apparently not been returned to jail and can't be put on the sex offenders' register. This is a very dangerous man." | He said: "He has now been released on licence, broken the terms of that licence and apparently not been returned to jail and can't be put on the sex offenders' register. This is a very dangerous man." |
Until recently Cronin was living at an address believed to be his elderly parents' home in Tranent. | Until recently Cronin was living at an address believed to be his elderly parents' home in Tranent. |
Police Scotland said he had been moved from there last month and his current whereabouts are unknown. | Police Scotland said he had been moved from there last month and his current whereabouts are unknown. |
But Mr McCabe, who wants a change in the law to deal with cases like Cronin's said: "If a sexual predator like this, about whom there is such concern, is in breach of his licence then why hasn't he been returned to jail?" | But Mr McCabe, who wants a change in the law to deal with cases like Cronin's said: "If a sexual predator like this, about whom there is such concern, is in breach of his licence then why hasn't he been returned to jail?" |
Cronin was first jailed for sexually assaulting a 14-year-old girl. | Cronin was first jailed for sexually assaulting a 14-year-old girl. |
In 1992, he posed as a priest to get into the Edinburgh home of a female Conservative Party activist, known as Judy X. He subjected her to a brutal sexual assault, and beat her savagely. | In 1992, he posed as a priest to get into the Edinburgh home of a female Conservative Party activist, known as Judy X. He subjected her to a brutal sexual assault, and beat her savagely. |
But his life sentence was cut to six years on appeal and he served only four years, prompting his victim to condemn the sentence as "an insult". | But his life sentence was cut to six years on appeal and he served only four years, prompting his victim to condemn the sentence as "an insult". |
Armed raid | Armed raid |
Shortly after his release, he was caught dressed as a priest and trying to get into the Irish parliament. | |
He was jailed again in 1997 for making harassing telephone calls and threats to female politicians. | He was jailed again in 1997 for making harassing telephone calls and threats to female politicians. |
He has posed as the mayor of Birmingham, and was also jailed for an armed bank raid in Waterford, Ireland. | He has posed as the mayor of Birmingham, and was also jailed for an armed bank raid in Waterford, Ireland. |
Since then he has been seen posing as a priest in Sligo, Galway and Donegal. | Since then he has been seen posing as a priest in Sligo, Galway and Donegal. |
Most recently, he stole £50 from nuns who took him in at a retreat in County Antrim. | Most recently, he stole £50 from nuns who took him in at a retreat in County Antrim. |
Mr Grayling has now pledged to investigate the case. | Mr Grayling has now pledged to investigate the case. |
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