Jason McDonagh

Jason McDonagh, a 36-year-old convicted paedophile, appeared before Oxford Crown Court after breaching the conditions of his release from prison. Previously jailed for 10 years for molesting two young sisters aged eight and five, McDonagh was required to notify authorities of his living arrangements upon release. However, he was found sleeping rough in an alleyway between Bury Knowle Park and the Waitrose supermarket in Headington, Oxford, in the spring of the previous year.

Police officer Sarah Magro visited McDonagh between July and August last year to check on his compliance. During the encounter, McDonagh refused to provide his name, speaking in monosyllables and an Irish accent, and suggested officers refer to him as an offensive term. He made few audible responses throughout interactions, including during his court appearances. Subsequent checks confirmed his identity at the Phoenix psychiatric ward at Littlemore hospital, where staff verified who he was. A review of the police national computer system revealed that McDonagh was a registered sex offender wanted by the Metropolitan Police for breaching his release terms, as reported by the Oxford Mail.

In court on Tuesday, a jury found McDonagh guilty of 'mute of malice' under a centuries-old law, determining that his feigned inability to speak was deliberate rather than due to a genuine condition like 'visitation of God'. McDonagh continued his pretence by shaking his head and pursing his lips instead of responding verbally when asked if he wished to question witnesses. The following day, on Wednesday, Judge Nigel Daly sentenced him to two-and-a-half years in prison, stating: "You disappeared off the radar, sleeping rough and making it extremely difficult for the authorities to track you. And, when they caught up with you, you made every effort to avoid identification." Thames Valley Police provided the image of McDonagh used in coverage of the case.