PADIHAM: Sex offender who fled to Holland is jailed

Dennis Bowskill (44), of Albert Street, Padiham, was jailed for two-and-a-half years as Burnley Crown Court heard how he skipped bail following the sickening discovery at his home in October, 2009.

Police had launched a massive man-hunt and even appealed on BBC1’s Crimewatch programme when Bowskill, a registered sex offender with a previous conviction for indecent assault, went on the run in March.

When police challenegd him at house he admitted to having indecent pictures in his possession but after being charged he then failed to appear at court

He was arrested on June 16th, after a police sting when he tried to rent accommodation in Amsterdam, the landlord saw him as a wanted sex offender on the internet, alerted police and a Dutch officer posing as the landlord met Bowskill at Amsterdam Central Station. He was extradited to the UK two months later.

Mr Stephen Parker (prosecuting) said Bowskill was interviewed, for the most part exercised his right to silence but said he had been stressed after voluntarily agreeing to go on a sex offenders’ treatment programme.

Mr Philip Holden (defending) said Bowskill conceded he had a problem and needed some help. The barrister added: “I concede on his behalf there must be a custodial sentence today.”

Mr Holden told the hearing: “He has had problems with drink and drugs in the past. He has suffered bereavements and relatively recently.” The barrister said Bowskill had been begging in Amsterdam. He continued: “He was living from one day to another without any clear direction.”

After the case, DC Andrew Ashworth, of Pennine Dangerous and Sexual Offenders Unit, said when police went to the defendant’s house last October, he had his computer on and he was “very, very, nervous”. DC Ashworth added: “He is a very high risk sex offender.”

Judge Woolman told Bowskill that in addition to a prison sentence he will be on the sex offenders’ register for life and his future internet use would be restricted and a special programme would be put on his computer to make it impossible to download illegal images.

CAPTION - FACING JAIL: Dennis Bowskill. (s)