A SEX offender currently serving a lengthy prison sentence will face no punishment after failing to notify police of a change of address within the required time period.

Newtown man David John was placed on the sex offender’s register for a previous offence and will remain on there until November 2031. As part of court procedures, all sex offenders have to notify police if they change their address within three days of moving.

John, 37, failed to do that on April 9 this year after he moved house in Newtown. He admitted a charge of failing to comply with the notification requirement of the sex offender’s register when he appeared at Welshpool Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday, August 9.

John, previously of Dinas, Newtown, was appearing via videolink from HMP Elmley in Kent, where he was sent in May of this year for offences of burglary and affray – receiving a 28-month sentence.

Prosecutor Helen Tench said: “He was placed on the sex offender’s register and needs to notify police of any changes of address within three days.

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“On April 26 he went to police in Newtown to notify them of his new address, which he had been living at since April 9; this put him in breach of the court order.”

Rob Hanratty, defending John, said there had been “a lot of turmoil” in his client’s personal life.

“He had been accommodated - he had secured employment, but there was no prospect of him being able to afford the £900 a month fee,” said Mr Hanratty.

“He became very desperate and moved in with a friend. His father’s health is deteriorating, while the crown court matter was pending too.

“In his own mind thought he had 20 days to notify police and they weren’t looking for him, he turned up at the police station. There was no bad faith or an intention to avoid detection.

“I would urge the court to deal with it by way of a conditional discharge. There was certainly no malicious or even casual intent to avoid compliance.”

Magistrates agreed to offer John a 12-month conditional discharge and ordered no costs, although he will have to pay a £22 surcharge upon his release.