Sex-offending clown WEEPS as judge orders his outfit be destroyed

Brian Russell, 52, also known as Joe Joe the Clown, carried on working as a children's entertainer, despite a ban imposed after he was cautioned for indecently assaulting underage girls.

He cried on Friday as Recorder Gerard Pounder, sitting at Basildon Crown Court, in Essex, ordered for his clown outfit to be destroyed to remove the temptation for him to take up his beloved trade.

Russell, of Station Road, Westcliff, Essex, had earlier admitted seven counts of breaching a SOPO.

"Mercifully nothing has happened but you disobeyed this order," the judge said. "Parents are entitled to expect people to obey these orders. 

"One can imagine the feelings of the parents when they discovered someone who is subject to a sexual offences prevention order was acting as a clown on various occasions - at a restaurant and a school." 

The court heard that the sex offender was hit with the order in 2003 after receiving two cautions for indecently assaulting underage girls in North Yorkshire and Northern Ireland. 

But despite a prohibition, Russell — who was born into a travelling circus family — just could not resist taking up his trade. 

He was spotted in his outfit at the Green House pub in Eastwood Road North, Leigh, in April 6 2012, where he offered his services as a balloon artist. 

Russell was also seen by swimming teacher at Earls Hall School in Carlton Avenue, Westcliff, who asked him to help distribute leaflets about an upcoming event at the school. 

Later, he wormed his way into working at the school as a balloon artist and children's entertainer on June 5 and July 19, 2013 and then again on July 19, 2014. 

But during one of his appearances a member of the public recognised him and called the police. 

Russell was also been found to have broken the order at the pub on March 29, 2013; August 3, 2013; April 4, 2014; and July 19, 2014. 

Mark Lekin, prosecuting said: "There were no allegations of impropriety, but clearly he's putting himself out there on a regular basis, which is in breach of a preventative order to protect children." 

In mitigation, his solicitor Matthew Bone explained Russell was "quite a simple man" who had been raised in a circus and not benefited from a regular education. 

He said: "The only trade he knew was a clown. He has, with his desire to be a clown, allowed his heart to rule his head. He has been utterly stupid but he has not held this order in contempt for many years." 

He added: "The order came about not because of a conviction but because of a caution given in North Yorkshire."

Recorder Gerard Pounder said that, if the indecent assault offence was before the courts now it wouldn't be dealt with by a caution. 

He sentenced Russell to a three-year community order, with a requirement that he must go on a sex offenders' programme. 

Russell was also ordered to carry out 150 hours of unpaid work and pay a £60 victim surcharge.