An Essex Sex Offender, Josh Guilder, previously incarcerated for theft of dummies, has been re-arrested for attempting to purchase used baby pacifiers online and for communicating with minors. Josh Guilder, 24, pilfered pacifiers from five toddlers in Harlow, Essex, between February 10 and August 7 of the previous year.
The homeless individual named Josh Guilder would subsequently retreat to his tent to utilise the dummies personally. He was convicted on five charges of stealing, three instances of common assault, and one public order crime, resulting in a 14-month imprisonment in February.
osh Guilder was released after serving only three months and promptly attempted to purchase used dummies from a new mother. In May of this year, Northampton Crown Court was informed that he harassed the woman on several occasions after discovering her selling baby items online.
At first the woman believed osh Guilder was a genuine buyer until he sent her messages saying he wanted her baby to “suck on the dummies” as he “wanted them used”. The woman was left feeling “shocked and disturbed” by Guilder’s messages and ceased contact with him, the court heard.
osh Guilder continued to send her messages, including one which chillingly read: “Can I take the dummy out of your baby’s mouth and suck on it.” The court heard osh Guilder also contacted two children online about buying used baby products.
He also deleted WhatsApp messages which was a breach of his Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO).
osh Guilder previously admitted one count of harassment without violence, two counts of breaching his SHPO and one attempted breach. On Monday (October 28) Guilder was jailed for 18 months in prison.
PC Carl Gardner, of Northamptonshire Police, said: “Josh Guilder wasn’t long out of prison when he committed these strange and disturbing offences. For that reason, I’m really pleased he is back behind bars and unable to commit further crimes.
“Registered sex offenders are very closely managed by our team and I want to be clear that any breaches are dealt with robustly. We do not give second chances or ‘the benefit of the doubt’ – anyone who breaches their order is charged and brought before the courts with a view to sending them to prison. I’m pleased to see osh Guilder jailed as it means the streets of Northamptonshire are that little bit safer.”
Josh Guilder’s dummy snatching sparked a manhunt when Essex Police received a series of complaints from parents. He was arrested on August 15 last year after police released an image of a man they wanted in connection with the terrifying incidents.
His solicitor said he “has never been weaned from dummies”. Mary Buxton, defending, told Chelmsford Magistrates’ Court Josh Guilder still “uses a dummy to soothe himself”.
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