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Paedo who sexually assaulted child (12) accused of loitering near primary school

When arrested and charged, Gareth Kitchener (37) stated he would self-harm and “on police heads be it”.

Today at 12:27

A convicted paedophile who sexually assaulted a 12-year-old friend of his children has been remanded in custody on a plethora of alleged Sexual Offences Prevention Order (SOPO) breaches by repeatedly being in the vicinity of a primary school.

When arrested and charged, Gareth Kitchener (37), from Millbrook Gardens, Castlederg, stated he would self-harm and “on police heads be it”.

He faces six counts of loitering in the vicinity of a primary school, as well as having unsupervised contact with children, between February 22 and March 13.

A detective sergeant told a special sitting of Dungannon Magistrates’ Court that all charges could be connected.

She explained that on March 13 a member of the public reported Kitchener was at a petrol station opposite Omagh County Primary School with two young children.

Enquiries revealed that although these were his children, he is only permitted supervised contact.

The following day, police attended the petrol station and observed Kitchener enter and walk to the rear of the premises, then peer over shelving and ask a member of staff: “Are they looking for me?”

At this time, he was aware that police were actively seeking him.

He left in a car which was located at an address nearby. Upon being approached, Kitchener became “verbally aggressive and obstructive with police, locking the car doors and refusing to open them”.

An officer attempted to open the car door by putting his arms through a partially open window, but Kitchener drove off.

Police managed to open the door. However, Kitchener “actively resisted arrest”.

Kitchener was charged with breaching the SOPO and released on bail. However, investigations showed he repeated this just two days later, and again a further five times, by being near the school.

During interview Kitchener described parking behind a wall as it was out of sight of his boss, who may have thought he was skiving. However, “police believe he parks in the same spot on an almost daily basis to facilitate unsupervised contact with his children and effectively go unnoticed. He is going out of his way to park in a child-centred location at school finishing time. This contact is prolonged.”

The detective continued: “The SOPO is in place due to the risk he poses. He is adamant he will continue to go to the filling station despite it being near a primary school during opening hours. When charged, he repeatedly stated he wouldn’t be attending court.”

Whilst in custody, Kitchener frequently referenced his mental health because of the arrest and charges, repeatedly stating he would self-harm and “on police heads be it”.

A defence solicitor stated Kitchener “accepts he attends the garage almost daily but not at set times. He denies the charges and insists he is not in breach of the SOPO… He assures he will abide by any conditions the court may impose.

However, District Judge Michael Ranaghan said: “That undertaking carries little or no weight. The SOPO is there to protect the vulnerable. The defendant presents a real risk of further offending and bail could not be managed.”

Kitchener will appear again by videolink in Omagh Magistrates’ Court on April 9.