Phillip Forsyth

Phillip Forsyth, a 41-year-old man from Preston, has a history of sexual offences that led to his recent sentencing for breaching a court-imposed sexual offences prevention order. In October 2008, at the age of 23, Forsyth was jailed for four years at Warrington Crown Court after attempting to rape a vulnerable 21-year-old woman in Warrington town centre.

The original incident occurred late at night after Forsyth, then a barman in the town centre and residing in Orford, met the victim who suffered from minor learning difficulties, making her more trusting. As detailed by prosecutor Peter Hussey during the 2008 hearing, the pair met after 2am, shared a drink and danced, but the woman soon felt uncomfortable with Forsyth's close attention and unwanted physical contact on the dance floor. When she expressed her desire to go home and he accompanied her to get a taxi, Forsyth attacked her, punching her several times in the face after she rejected his advances.

Forsyth then dragged the frightened woman by her hair to a secluded area behind a Lloyds TSB bank, pulling her up the steps with such force that clumps of hair were wrenched from her head. Her head was banged on the steps, leaving her feeling sick and dizzy. He dropped his trousers and demanded she perform a sex act on him, instructing her 'to be a good girl'. Fortunately, a passing taxi driver heard her screams, shouted at Forsyth, prompting him to flee the scene.

As part of his 2008 sentence, Forsyth was also subjected to a sexual offences prevention order aimed at deterring future similar crimes, alongside requirements to sign the sex offenders register. However, between September 2023 and September 2024, Forsyth breached this order without reasonable excuse by inviting a vulnerable person with learning difficulties into his home in Preston on multiple occasions, an action explicitly prohibited by the order.

Forsyth, now residing at Tulketh Crescent in Preston, pleaded guilty to the breach charges at a magistrates' court, where he was remanded in custody. The case was committed to Preston Crown Court for sentencing. In the recent hearing, he received a 16-month prison sentence, suspended for two years, along with an order to complete 20 days of rehabilitation activities and 120 hours of unpaid community work. His obligations under the sex offenders register and the prevention order remain in effect.

• The 2008 attack took place in Warrington, Cheshire, highlighting Forsyth's predatory behaviour towards vulnerable individuals.
• The breach occurred in Preston, Lancashire, demonstrating ongoing non-compliance with court protections.

This case underscores the challenges in monitoring and preventing recidivism among sex offenders, with Forsyth's actions posing continued risks to vulnerable people in the community.