Judges reject Leeds paedophile’s bid to end prison term after seven years

John Dillon from Cottingley Drive, Morley, Leeds, sexually assaulted a 15-year-old girl while out on licence for indecently assaulting other girls. He was ordered to serve at least four years in prison in April 2007.

He took a legal challenge to the European Court of Human Rights arguing that his continued detention was unlawful. The HMP Whatton inmate claimed poor organisation of prison courses meant he could not demonstrate that he posed less risk.

But the panel of seven judges ruled: “The Court is satisfied that a real opportunity for rehabilitation was provided to the applicant and that there was no unreasonable delay in providing him access to assessments and courses.”

Dillon, currently detained in the Nottinghamshire jail, was given an indeterminate sentence for public protection following his conviction for sexual assault, the judges said. He was given a minimum tariff period of four years, West Yorkshire Police said.

His release after the expiry of this tariff period was subject to the approval of the Parole Board, the European Court’s judgement said.

Dillon completed the core Sex Offenders Treatment Programme (SOTP) in 2009 and had been assessed as suitable for the extended SOTP. But then the prison authorities concluded that he was insufficiently motivated to undertake the extended course.

The inmate complained that the only way that he could address the risk he presented to the public was by completing the extended SOTP, but his access to this course had been delayed.

The European judges concluded that prompt steps were taken to begin the applicant’s progression through the prison system, even before the expiry of his minimum tariff. They said: “The nine-month delay between the expiry of his tariff and his reassessment for the SOTP was not unreasonable.”