A FAILING OF THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM!

A FAILING OF THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM!

I was shocked and disgusted to have read about Eddie Piwko who - as reported in the Tameside Advertiser on Thursday 5th February 2015 - had prowled internet chat rooms and spent months grooming girls as young as 14 years of age.

In August 2013, he was arrested by the Police and on Tuesday 3rd February 2015 was
sentenced at Manchester Crown Court and jailed for two years after admitting four charges of attempting to arrange an act which would involve the commission of a child sex offence.

In the intervening 18 month period, Eddie Piwko lived on Moorfield Avenue, Denton. He - along with other people - helped me during my 2014 Local Election Campaign. At the time he was trusted by myself as a friend and was in close contact with my wife and our two year old daughter.

It is horrible to think that this man - his actions unknown to myself, family and friends - was allowed by the Criminal Justice System to continue interacting within our community from August 2013. Why did it take 18 months from the time of his arrest to his sentencing? I am angered by this, especially since the Police had the evidence of his behaviour.

I do believe in "innocent until proven guilty". However, in celebrity child abuse cases - Fred Talbot, Stuart Hall etc - the public are informed of any charges made. So why should those who are charged of similar crimes be allowed to just slip back anonymously amongst an uninformed and unsuspecting local community?

Carl Simmons
Denton South Independent

Saturday 14th February 2015