Jack John Reilly – Paignton/Birmingham

Police officers from Devon and Cornwall Police have announced they have secured a rare court order to protect children from a man who was believed to be set on coercing youngsters to commit crime.

Posting on their social media Facebook site, Kingsbridge Police said they had helped secure a Slavery and Trafficking Risk order on 22-year-old Jack John Reilly during a hearing at North and East Devon Magistrates Court sitting at Exeter.

The team said the order was sought “to protect children from harm and prevent possible coercion of them to commit crime.”

“Jack John Reilly, who used to live in Paignton, and Birmingham has been given the order by the magistrates court – which restricts his travel, access to social media and contact with children.
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“The order, part of the Modern Slavery Act 2015, was handed down by the court after intelligence was given to police suggesting Reilly was seeking to coerce others to commit crime and bring them to physical and psychological harm.

“The order means Reilly is excluded from entering areas including Torquay, Paignton, Brixham, Teignmouth, Newton Abbot and Dawlish.

“If he breaches the order, which lasts until 2030, Reilly could be jailed for up to five years.”

Conditions stipulated include making Devon and Cornwall Police aware of any change to Reilly’s name or address, making police aware of any mobile phone he may have, as well as giving access to it on demand, and having any contact with a child without a proper reason.

He is also banned from using the Snapchat social media platform or entering South Devon, except under strict parameters identified in the order.

In 2019, he was jailed for smashing a pensioner’s jaw and threatening to stab his two dogs in an argument over just £100.

Det Supt Hayley Costar from Devon and Cornwall Police said: “The Slavery and Trafficking Risk Order is a way to not only protect children from being drawn into a life of crime and prevent child exploitation, but also to target and restrict the activities of those who present a significant risk of harm to our communities

“The court was given evidence that showed the defendant had acted in a way which meant there was a risk he would commit a slavery or human trafficking offence within section 23 of the Modern Slavery Act 2015.

“The order is aimed at preventing physical or psychological harm which would be likely to occur otherwise. We will use whatever legislation is available to us to prevent harm and protect those living in our communities.”