A dummy snatcher who was freed from jail early is back behind bars for trying to buy used baby pacifiers online and contacting children. Josh Guilder, 24, stole soothers from five children around Harlow in Essex between February 10 and August 7 last year.
Homeless Guilder would then go and sit in his tent and use the dummies himself. He was convicted of five counts of theft, three of common assault and a public order offence and was jailed for 14 months in February.
Guilder was released after serving just three months and almost immediately he tried to buy used dummies from a new mum. Northampton Crown Court heard in May this year he harassed the woman on multiple occasions after finding her selling baby products online.
At first the woman believed 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 was told.
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 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). 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 Guilder jailed as it means the streets of Northamptonshire are that little bit safer.” 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 Guilder still “uses a dummy to soothe himself”.