Valerijs Gordijis

A convicted paedophile, Valerijs Gordijis, who had been serving a sentence for sexual offences against children at Hull Prison, absconded hours after his release, leading to a swift police operation to locate him.

On Monday, 18 November 2019, Gordijis, aged 46, was released from Hull Prison in East Yorkshire. However, within hours, Humberside Police issued an urgent appeal to the public to help find him, describing him as a convicted sex offender and warning members of the public not to approach him. A warrant for his arrest was promptly issued due to concerns over his whereabouts and potential risk.

The appeal garnered widespread attention, with the Hull Daily Mail reporting on the incident and urging community assistance. Humberside Police stated in their release that Gordijis was subject to strict licence conditions following his conviction for child sex offences, and his failure to comply necessitated immediate action.

• Released from Hull Prison: 18 November 2019
• Police appeal issued: Hours after release on 18 November 2019
• Located and arrested: 19 November 2019 on Hessle Road, Hull

Relief came the following day when Gordijis was found safe on Hessle Road in Hull. A spokesman for Humberside Police confirmed: "Following our media appeal, Valerijs Gordijis was located on Hessle Road this morning. He was arrested and will be returned to prison." The force expressed gratitude to the public for sharing the appeal, highlighting the effectiveness of community involvement in such operations.

This incident underscores the challenges in managing high-risk offenders post-release, with Gordijis now facing return to custody to complete his sentence for the original sexual offences against children. The case was covered extensively by local media, including the Hull Daily Mail, emphasising public safety and police vigilance in the Humber region.