FA ‘orders 200 children to stop playing youth league games at their home ground’ over claims homeless ‘sex offender’, 30, is housed in cabin in car park ‘and was staring at youngsters’

• Local club said they were told to stop playing football on the football pitches
• Claims council housed a sex offender, 30, in portable cabin next to the fields
• Parents complained the offender was allegedly staring at children
• However, the police said ‘no offences were being committed’ when they arrived

The Football Association has stopped 200 children from playing youth league games at their home ground – because a sex offender has been housed nearby.

The ban was ordered after furious parents found out that a council had housed the 30-year-old in a pod-style cabin next to three pitches used by their children.

The man who is serving a suspended jail sentence for trying to meet a 14-year-old girl for sex was given the temporary home by a council in Norfolk after becoming homeless.

He is living in one of four portable buildings providing temporary accommodation for the homeless in the car park of the council-owned football pitches in Norfolk.

The pods which each have a bedroom and a toilet with shower are guarded round the clock by security guards working for the local council.

But angry parents of young players complained that the offender was allegedly staring at children during matches.

The sex offender – who was handed a suspended sentence – has been housed in a portable cabin by the local council, which sits next to the council-owned football pitches

The club which has 13 teams for boys and girls aged seven to 14 on the pitches contacted the local FA and was told to cancel all its home fixtures.

A spokesman for the club said: ‘It is bloody ridiculous that this guy was housed here. People are outraged.

‘We became aware about it a few weeks ago. The FA told us to stop all youth games immediately.

‘The FA is allowing us to play reverse fixtures so there is no penalty for playing our home games at opposition grounds.

‘We have also been looking for new places to play and for training.

‘I know the council have a duty of care to this individual, but they also have a duty to kids and it is wrong that they placed him here.

‘They should have put him somewhere more appropriate. We are hoping that they move him soon, so we can return.

‘We were also told to stop our senior sides from playing, but the FA has since said that they can play after all.’

A local resident, a 40-year-old mother-of-two, said she saw the offender ‘standing in his doorway’ when her 12-year-old son was playing a match on September 18.

She said: ‘It made me feel uncomfortable. I sometimes have my 14-year-old daughter with me watching games.

The portable cabin where the sex offender lives is in close proximity to the football fields

‘He is well known because he was trapped by paedophile hunters who put him all over social media.

‘He was also seen hanging around watching the girls play the day before. The police were called because people were so concerned.

‘I heard that they moved him along while the football was going on.

‘There is also a fenced multi-sports area where kids play basketball right outside his front door.

‘It is just crazy that the council is putting their concerns for him over 200 children who play here

‘Why should children suffer just so he can have somewhere to live. His rights are being put ahead of their rights.’

The offender from Norfolk was snared by vigilantes after he sent sexually explicit messages to an investigator posing as a 14-year-old girl between August 21 and 28 last year.

Police were alerted after he turned up to meet the girl and was instead confronted by vigilante group members.

He admitted attempted attempting to cause a child to look at an image of sexual activity and attempting to engage in sexual communication with a child.

The sex offender has been housed in a portable cabin by the local council, which sits next to the council-owned football pitches

The offender was given a two year jail sentence suspended for 21 months and put on the sex offender’s register for ten years.

He insisted that he knew nothing about the FA stopping children from playing on the pitches beside his accommodation when he was questioned by a reporter.

The man denied being a paedophile, saying: ‘The police set me up. I never touch kids. I don’t talk to kids.’

He also denied watching children play football. He said: ‘I just chill out and listen to the radio.’

The man said he had been living in the pod for ‘three or four months’ and hoped to be moved as he could not cope with the steps as he had a disability.

He showed the reporter an injury on his arm and claimed: ‘I get attacked every time I go out* I don’t even like it here.’

The man added: ‘I will be moving soon. I won’t stay here for ever. I was in South Lynn and they moved me here. It’s not permanent.’

The council launched its portable building pods in several places as part of its Homeless and Rough Sleeping strategy in 2020.

A council spokesperson said: ‘We have a legal duty to help all people who are homeless or at risk of homelessness.

‘Our service may include the provision of advice, temporary accommodation or longer-term accommodation as appropriate based on our assessment of a person’s needs and any risk factors, and within the bounds of what is available.

‘The pods were introduced as part of the Government’s ‘Everyone In’ initiative during Covid to provide shelter to vulnerable people who would otherwise have been rough sleeping.

‘They continue to provide a valuable resource for the time being, although they are not part of our long-term strategy in response to rough sleeping.

‘We take our responsibilities to the individuals housed and the community very seriously and when the pods were installed a number of additional measures were put in place, including 24/7 security, CCTV and specialist support services.

‘Risk assessments, based on the needs and safety of the individual and the community, are conducted for each person housed in the pods.

‘These assessments, which are done in consultation with partners in the police, probation service and social services, are continually updated.

‘Safety is at the heart of each assessment and every risk assessment carefully considers the circumstances of those in need of accommodation.

‘We have not asked for football to be stopped. One football club have requested short term alternative playing facilities whilst they review their position and we are working with them to facilitate this request.’

A Norfolk FA spokesperson said: ‘Safeguarding children within grassroots football remains Norfolk FA’s primary concern, and we will continue to consistently offer support to all leagues, clubs, teams, players and parents in this area. We are not in a position to provide further comment at this time.’

A Norfolk Police spokesperson said: ‘Norfolk Constabulary’s Public Protection Unit monitor and manage registered sex offenders living in Norfolk.

‘They have a duty to disclose information to protect where there is a safeguarding concern or a risk to the public exists.

‘There is no information to disclose at this time.’

The police spokesperson confirmed that officers had been called to the site, saying: ‘We received a report of suspicious circumstances but on arrival no offences were being committed.’

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