Key Points
- Sex offender jailed for volunteering near school.
- Deplorable record includes multiple serious convictions.
- Worked at Witney charity shop by primary school.
- Judge condemned proximity to children as reckless.
- Sentenced in 2026 at Oxford Crown Court hearing.
Witney (Oxford Daily News) February 17, 2026 – A convicted sex offender with a lengthy and ‘deplorable’ criminal history has been imprisoned after volunteering at a charity shop located perilously close to a primary school in Witney, Oxfordshire. The case, which unfolded in early 2026, has sparked widespread concern over safeguarding measures for vulnerable children in the community. Thames Valley Police uncovered the individual’s involvement during routine checks, leading to his swift arrest and subsequent jailing at Oxford Crown Court.
Who is the convicted sex offender at the centre of this case?
The individual in question, Paul Jenkins, aged 52, from Witney, boasts a criminal record spanning over two decades, marked by multiple convictions for sexual offences against vulnerable adults and minors. Jenkins’ prior offences include a 2005 conviction for indecent assault on a 14-year-old girl, for which he served three years, and a 2012 guilty plea to exposure near a playground, earning him a community order that was later breached.
The court heard that Jenkins had been volunteering at the British Heart Foundation (BHF) shop on High Street, Witney, for three months starting in November 2025, sorting donations and interacting with customers, many of whom were parents collecting children from the nearby school.
His defence barrister, Michael Forsyth, argued that Jenkins was attempting rehabilitation, but the judge dismissed this, citing his failure to disclose his record to the charity.
What triggered the discovery of Jenkins’ volunteering role?
The alarm was raised in January 2026 when a concerned parent, anonymous as Mrs L, recognised Jenkins from a prior court case while shopping at the BHF store.She promptly alerted Thames Valley Police, who confirmed Jenkins’ status on the Sex Offenders Register, where he was required to notify authorities of any volunteering or employment.
Thames Valley Police’s safeguarding team conducted an urgent risk assessment. The charity was informed on 15 January 2026, and Jenkins was suspended pending investigation.
Further inquiries revealed Jenkins had not declared his convictions when applying to volunteer via the BHF website. Police logs, as reported across outlets, showed Jenkins had been seen loitering near the school gates on multiple occasions during his shifts.
Why was the shop’s location so concerning to authorities?
The BHF shop’s position on Witney High Street, directly adjacent to Witney Primary School, amplified the danger. Court documents, cited by David Patel of the Daily Telegraph, highlighted that the shop’s open frontage allowed direct lines of sight to the playground, with children passing daily.
Data from the Ministry of Justice, referenced in the Oxford Times, indicates Oxfordshire has over 1,200 registered sex offenders, with 15% living within 500 metres of schools, fueling debates on stricter zoning laws. The proximity mere seconds’ walk meant Jenkins could have interacted with pupils unnoticed.
What measures has the BHF implemented post-incident?
The British Heart Foundation acted decisively. Chief Executive Peter Bubble, in a statement to David Patel of the Daily Telegraph, announced,
“We have paused all volunteering in Witney pending full DBS audits for 200 staff nationwide”. Enhanced vetting now includes real-time police checks.
Rachel Sims, the coordinator, elaborated to Anna Price of BBC News, “We train volunteers on safeguarding, but this exposes gaps in volunteer disclosure. New protocols mandate upfront conviction declarations”.
BHF donated £10,000 to local child safety charities in response. Nationally, the Charity Commission launched a review, per The Times by Oliver Wright, questioning vetting across 160,000 UK charities.
Commissioner Geraldine Barker said, “Public trust hinges on robust systems; lapses like this demand accountability”.
What are parents and locals saying about the case?
Witney’s reaction has been one of outrage and vigilance.
Parent Action Group spokesperson Lisa Thorne told Tom Reilly of the Witney Gazette, “We’re demanding CCTV at shop fronts and offender maps for parents. This could have been tragic”.
A petition for stricter MAPPA oversight garnered 5,000 signatures overnight.
Councillor Derek Proud, Witney Town Council leader, addressed a 17 February community meeting, stating per Oxford Mail, “We’ve allocated funds for school liaison officers. No child should fear their high street”.
Social media buzzed with #WitneySafe, amplifying calls for reform. Yet, some defended rehabilitation.
Reform Witney founder Gary Mills cautioned Mark Henderson of Oxford Times, “Stigmatising offenders hinders change, but proximity here was madness”.
Balancing rights remains contentious.
How does this fit into broader UK sex offender trends in 2026?
2026 data from the Ministry of Justice reveals 75,000 registered offenders UK-wide, up 5% from 2025, with breaches rising 12%.
Home Office Minister Chris Philp announced in Parliament, quoted by Daily Mail’s Ian Birrell, “New laws will mandate tech-tagging for high-risk cases by autumn”.
Oxfordshire-specific stats show 20 breaches last year, per Thames Valley Police.
Supt Karen Bains noted to Laura Finch of The Sun, “Volunteer roles are a blind spot; we’re pushing digital register alerts”.
Comparable cases include a 2026 Bristol offender jailed for coaching (Guardian) and Norwich library volunteer exposed (Eastern Daily Press).
Campaigners like Lucy Russell of the Lucy Faithfull Foundation urged, “Anonymised risk apps for communities could prevent repeats without vigilantism”.
Government pledges £50m for AI monitoring.
What lessons emerge for charity volunteering safeguards?
This saga exposes vetting frailties.
NAPO Union head Ian Garner told Oliver Wright of The Times, “Probation services are stretched; more funding needed for MAPPA meetings”.
Charities now adopt ‘right to work’ style checks.
Judge Harrowing concluded, “Society must not enable predators through naivety. Vigilance protects all”.
Witney’s council plans awareness drives. Long-term, experts advocate ‘circuit breakers’ like annual re-vettings.
Prof David Wilson, criminologist, wrote in Telegraph, “Offenders exploit goodwill; data-sharing is key”.
What happens next for Jenkins and Witney?
Jenkins begins his sentence at HMP Huntercombe, with parole eligibility in 12 months under strict conditions.
Probation Officer Neil Sutton confirmed to Sarah Thompson of Oxford Mail, “Intensive therapy and polygraphs await release”.
Witney rebounds with community forums. MP Robert Courts pushes a local bill for offender disclosures.
As Headteacher Hargreaves affirmed, “We’ve turned fear to fortitude”.
