Police forces apologise over paedophile boyfriend case

Two police forces have apologised for failing to warn a mum that she and her young sons were living with a predatory paedophile for two years.

Unsuspecting Cheryle Hibbert, 42, shared a home with pervert Dan Brasier as he faced child sex offences and even had his baby before discovering his sick side.

Despite lessons supposedly learned from the Soham murders, two separate forces failed to tell Cheryle the truth about her lover. Under rules set up after the murders of schoolgirls Holly Wells and Jessica Chapman the mum should have been informed about the claims against him.

But police supposedly monitoring his bail failed to stop him living with young children – or tell Cheryle he was under investigation.

Business Cards From Only £10.95 Delivered www.myprint-247.co.uk

myprint-247

View details

Print voucher

Our heavyweight cards have FREE UV silk coating, FREE next day delivery & VAT included. Choose from 1000's of pre-designed templates or upload your own artwork. Orders dispatched within 24hrs.

Terms: Visit our site for more products: Business Cards, Compliment Slips, Letterheads, Leaflets, Postcards, Posters & much more. All items are free next day delivery. www.myprint-247.co.uk

Contact: 01858 468192

Valid until: Friday, May 31 2013

Brasier even managed to keep his conviction secret from Cheryle for several months after his case in 2011.

He admitted making indecent photos of children, performing a sex act in front of a child and attempting to procure a child for sex.

He was given a three-year supervision order and went back to Cheryle and her two sons, then aged ten and eight, in Helston, as if nothing had happened.

She eventually dumped Brasier a few months later after receiving an anonymous text asking "R Ur kids safe?"

Thames Valley Police, who had prosecuted Brasier, failed to pass on details of the case to Devon and Cornwall Police.

Thames Valley officer Gordon Nash was found guilty of misconduct in January and the force has now written to Cheryle to apologise.

Detective Superintendent Nora Holford claimed their procedures were now "far more robust" when dealing with child pornography offenders and reviewing bail arrangements.

A second force, Avon and Somerset Police, helped Thames Valley Police with Brasier's arrest and was also supposed to monitor his bail conditions.

In a letter to Cheryle, Inspector Mike Ashwin says: "I accept responsibility for my staff not applying bail conditions despite the lack of apparent dialogue with the officer in the case and for that I also sincerely apologise."

Brasier was first arrested for grooming what he thought was a 14-year-old girl – who was in fact a Metropolitan Police officer. Scotland Yard alerted Thames Valley Police who found computers containing child sex images at Brasier's home in Bracknell.

While on bail Brasier moved to Cornwall where he met Cheryle, a civil servant at the Royal Naval Air Station in Culdrose.

She said: "It was shocking that not just one police force but two failed in their duty.

"I think all police forces need to take heed and ensure they are protecting people from predatory sex offenders.

"We have been to hell and back."