Posted on 10/21/2006 4:28:42 PM PDT by wagglebee
A convicted paedophile is being allowed to use a gym at a school because the authorities are worried that banning him would infringe his human rights.
Andrew Baldwin, 43, was convicted in 1999 of molesting three girls aged 12 and 13.
Yet he is a frequent visitor to a public gym on the site of Whitecross School, a comprehensive for 11-16 year olds in Lydney in the Forest of Dean.
Outraged parents, who raised the alarm four weeks ago, claim they were told the school was afraid to ban Baldwin in case it was accused of breaching his human rights.
This is despite the fact that the gym is next door to children's changing rooms.
Anthony Callaghan, 40, whose 15-year-old daughter attends Whitecross school, confronted Baldwin when he first saw him at the gym - and the child abuser promptly complained to the receptionist.
Mr Callaghan said: "It's so ridiculous, you couldn't make it up. The gym is for over-16s but it is right on the school premises and you have to go down the corridor and past the boys' and girls' changing room to get there.
"I use it five times a week and I've been walking down the corridor with girls in their PE kits and quite often the changing room doors are left ajar.
The headmaster told me it was out of his hands because the solicitors say a ban would breach this paedophile's human rights.
"Well, if that's the case, what about the human rights of the pupils?"
The gym is at council-run Whitecross Leisure Centre, which is in 'joint use' with the school. The majority of public use of the facilities, including squash courts and sports hall, takes place in the evenings or at weekends. But, crucially, the 'lifestyle fitness suite' is open to the public from 9am each day.
Whitecross headmaster David Gaston and Forest of Dean District Council are now talks with legal experts on how to resolve the issue, with one option stopping Baldwin attending the gym during school hours.
Mr Gaston said: "The safety of students is the absolute priority of the school and any decision will take their welfare into account."
A council spokesman added: "We're unable to comment because the head at Whitecross is awaiting definitive legal advice from Shire Hall."
The child protection charity Kidscape called for immediate action. Director Dr Michelle Elliott said: "This totally defies common sense. Men who have been convicted of abusing a child should not be on school premises."
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It doesn't get much worse than this!
He has the right to remain silent PERMENTLY!
Your right to swing your fist ENDS where my face begins.
Buddy...you swung too far.
Well said, Mr. Callaghan.
In usual form, liberals are more concerned with a pedophile's "human rights" than with protecting children from abuse.
UK Ping.
THe "human right" TO GO TO THE GYM OF YOUR CHOICE!
THat's how ridiculous this whole thing has gotten.
It's because of stuff like this that I can't wait to leave the UK.
The homo agenda ... it may be far beyond the time to quit being so damn tolerant ... to pedophiles AND those who force 'tolerance" down our unwilling throats.
THIS is London?
That's the name of the London Daily Mail's website.
It seems that the UK is really diving off in to the abyss faster than the speed of light.
When people commit horrible crimes, they lose many of their rights. Or they should.
First of all I agree with you on this!
Second of all tell you son a big SEMPER FI from a retired "Brother"!
Michael savage says everytime he hears "human rights" he reaches for his glock
We are under attack by the left AND... FR is being infiltrated by pro-homos from all over who want to redefine their coulture for us... so BEWARE :)....
The "new line" goes something like this: There are "good" homos (Republicans) and "bad" homos (Democrats) and we Repbulicans ("non-homos":) - LOL - should be upset with the "bad" homos for outing "good" homos working "innocently" in Republican's offices in Washington DC.
It's almost funny, isnt? :)
If this was hereabouts, and one of those girls was my daughter, granddaughter, or niece or great niece, that pedophile might get one warning, after that he might very well wake up one morning with a 12 gage enema where his "equipment" used to be.
Of course around here, such as it are prohibited by law from hanging around schools, so likely before he got the enema, he'd find himself in the local lockup, where other unpleasant things might happen to him.
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