Police reassure residents over release of convicted paedophile

Police have held a public meeting with the Highgate community to discuss the release of a convicted paedophile.

Officers met residents to discuss the release of Gerald Ingram, who was jailed for three years and eight months in 2012 for arranging to sexually abuse children and for making and distributing indecent images of children.

Ingram was freed from jail last month after serving half his sentence and is barred from using the internet and from having contact with under-16s.

Police advised residents in Priory Gardens, where Ingram also lives, to call the police on 101 if they are concerned that the terms of this licence have been breached.

Officers also apologised for a delay in arranging the meeting, after previously promising to talk to residents before Ingram’s release.

Carrie Kirkpatrick, a TV producer, of Priory Gardens, said: “It was good to – at last – to have guidance for parents who are worried about what to do.”

A police spokesman said: “The meeting was held later than intended, but this did not affect the normal police actions, as is the case for any release of an individual convicted of similar offences.”