Rapist's rights upheld prior to attack
Published: May 10, 2008 at 3:24 PM
LEEDS, England, May 10 (UPI) -- A convicted rapist's right to live where he chose was upheld by British officials just months before he raped and killed a 14-year-old girl, officials say.
Les Carter, a member of the Leeds City Council, said when 40-year-old Michael Clark moved to the British city, city officials tried to force him to move in the interests of protecting local residents, The Telegraph said Saturday.
Clark, who was on the Sex Offenders Register for sexually assaulting a prostitute and raping another woman, was supported by Shelter, a charity for homeless people.
Shelter officials said Clark had the right to choose where he lived and city officials were forced to provide him with a home in the area.
Clark broke into the home of a family nearly a year later and sexually molested a 14-year-old girl. He then brutally killed the teenager and moved to the town of Blackpool.
Carter told the Telegraph while Clark was eventually caught and sentenced to a minimum of 35 years in prison for the killing, Leeds officials should have been allowed to take action.
"I'm not worried about his rights, I'm more concerned about the rights of a 14-year-old girl who should be alive today," he said.
Les Carter, a member of the Leeds City Council, said when 40-year-old Michael Clark moved to the British city, city officials tried to force him to move in the interests of protecting local residents, The Telegraph said Saturday.
Clark, who was on the Sex Offenders Register for sexually assaulting a prostitute and raping another woman, was supported by Shelter, a charity for homeless people.
Shelter officials said Clark had the right to choose where he lived and city officials were forced to provide him with a home in the area.
Clark broke into the home of a family nearly a year later and sexually molested a 14-year-old girl. He then brutally killed the teenager and moved to the town of Blackpool.
Carter told the Telegraph while Clark was eventually caught and sentenced to a minimum of 35 years in prison for the killing, Leeds officials should have been allowed to take action.
"I'm not worried about his rights, I'm more concerned about the rights of a 14-year-old girl who should be alive today," he said.
© 2008 United Press International. All Rights Reserved.
This material may not be reproduced, redistributed, or manipulated in any form.
This material may not be reproduced, redistributed, or manipulated in any form.
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