Paedophile wins appeal on work ban regarding contact with children

Judges have ruled that a convicted paedophile can work in jobs that may bring him into contact with children.

Stelios Kimpriktzis, 38, was jailed in 2006 for grooming a 13-year-old boy online and persuading him to have sex.

On his release he was prevented from working in areas where he may come into contact with children.

The Court of Appeal has upheld his challenge to the order, ruling that it was wrong to condemn him to a life on benefits.

In 2006, Kimpriktzis was convicted at Chester Crown Court of two counts of sexual activity with a boy under 13, one of meeting a child after sexual grooming and one of attempting to cause grievous bodily harm.

The court heard he lured the boy to woods, persuaded him to perform sexual acts and failed to tell him he was HIV positive.

'Served his punishment'

He was jailed for three years and given a sexual offences prevention order that banned him from working anywhere that he might come into contact with children under 16.

In 2009 Kimpriktzis was recalled to jail, and the order amended to run indefinitely, after he tried to sell memorabilia with "obvious interest to children" on eBay.

On appeal, Kimpriktzis argued the constraints on his employment were "disproportionate" and effectively blocked him from working anywhere except his own home.

The court allowed the appeal and removed employment restrictions.

However, Kimpriktzis remains banned from unsupervised contact with children under 17 without parental permission.

He also remains banned from certain professions such as teaching, nursing or driving a school bus remains in place until 2016.

Lady Justice Hallett, sitting with Mr Justice Bean and Judge Michael Pert QC, said: "He has served his punishment.

"This court does what it can to protect children - you can do your best, but if you are simply depriving him of all liberty forever, the law does not allow you to do that."