Sex Offender Back Behind Bars After Shocking Langley Park Spree
Colin Luke, 69, a convicted sex offender, has been slammed back into prison after brazenly breaching his court orders. Over a frantic four weeks last October, Luke terrorised Langley Park in County Durham with a vile campaign of harassment and stalking.
Disgraceful Acts at Local Shops
Luke exposed himself to shoppers at the Premier Store and relentlessly targeted staff at the local Co-op and a hair salon. He made lewd comments about employees’ appearances and invaded their personal space, causing distress and alarm.
Breaking Orders by Targeting Children
In a chilling defiance of his Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO), Luke spoke to children and even visited a children’s play park—strictly forbidden territory for him. This SHPO was meant to keep him away from youngsters after his 2014 conviction for abducting and sexually assaulting a schoolgirl in Bowburn.
Swift Police Action and Jail Time
Durham Constabulary’s Public Protection Unit sprang into action, charging Luke with six offences including exposure, stalking, harassment, and breaching his SHPO. He admitted guilt to all charges. On January 10, Durham Crown Court handed him a hefty sentence of two years and four months behind bars.
Detective Constable Aimee Crawford said, “Sexual Harm Prevention Orders are just one of the tools we can use to help keep people safe. These allow us to monitor offenders’ activity in the community, and where they fail to comply, will return them to jail.”
Durham police urge anyone affected by sexual offences to report incidents promptly via their website or by calling 101. In emergencies, dial 999 immediately.
