Sept 2007 Sex offender had ‘cavalier attitude’ towards order An accountant, who is a registered sex offender, was sentenced to 28 days’ imprisonment last week for failing to give police sufficient notice that he was going abroad. Andrew Locke, 52, of Cromwell Road, Kingston, was convicted in February 2004 of possessing an indecent photograph of a child on his computer, and was ordered to sign the sex offenders’ register for five years. Jacqui Franks, prosecuting, told Richmond Magistrates’ Court that this required Mr Locke to inform police seven days before any trip abroad of more than three days and give them exact details 24 hours prior to the trip. She said that Locke went to Twickenham police station on July 23, telling officers he was leaving the country from July 24 until July 28, which was less than 24 hours’ notice. George Keppe, defending, said Locke was an accountant who managed property abroad, which explained his frequent need to travel. He said: “Mr Locke admits he had a cavalier attitude in this occasion but he has been complying fully with his order for three years. “At least he did give notice and didn’t just run off – how often do we see these Home Office statistics about people missing from the system?” Locke had already served 27 days in custody on bail by the time he was sentenced and was released by magistrates.