Jailed: Repeat sex offender from Telford gets two years

Damien Fellows, 33, of Brunel Road, Malinslee, Telford, had asked staff at Abraham Darby Sports and Leisure Centre in Madeley if he could get changed in front of people.

He admitted breaching the sexual offences order made just weeks before.

Shrewsbury Crown Court heard yesterday that Fellows has a history of sex offences.

Mr Tariq Shakoor, prosecuting, said on August 1 this year Fellows was overheard by members of staff at the leisure centre asking other staff members if he could get changed at the pool side in front of people.

Mr Shakoor said: "Members of staff firstly thought he had a learning disability and went to show him round the disabled changing room. He told staff it was perfect. He continued to ask questions such as how much of his body would be covered by the water and kept asking if he could change by the poolside for people to see.

"He was then ushered out by staff and later arrested by police."

The court heard that Fellows had a record of sexual offences for similar incidents including indecent exposure and committing acts of outraging public decency.

He also had previous convictions for sexual assault for which he had been jailed.

Eight weeks before the offence Fellows was made subject to a sexual offences prevention order at Wolverhampton Crown Court on May 15. As part of that order he was told not to attend any leisure centres without permission of the police.

Mr Dean Easthope, for Fellows, said his client was a young man who has a lot of problems and was on the autistic spectrum.

"He simply doesn't understand things as a normal person would," he said.

Judge Jonathan Gosling said: "I know you have difficulties so you see things differently from other people but this has led you to repeatedly offend over the last 10 years."