ANDREW LOCKE, SEX OFFENDER FROM KINGSTON, SENTENCED FOR FAILING TO NOTIFY POLICE OF TRAVEL

In September 2007, Andrew Locke, a 52-year-old accountant from Cromwell Road, Kingston, was sentenced to 28 days in prison after being convicted of failing to provide adequate notice to police before traveling abroad.

Locke, who was previously convicted in February 2004 of possessing an indecent photograph of a child on his computer and ordered to register as a sex offender for five years, was found to have breached the conditions of his order.

Prosecutor Jacqui Franks told Richmond Magistrates' Court that Locke was required to inform police at least seven days prior to any trip exceeding three days and to give specific details 24 hours before departure. She explained that Locke visited Twickenham police station on July 23, claiming he would be leaving the country from July 24 to July 28, but he provided less than 24 hours' notice.

Defending Locke, George Keppe stated that he was an accountant managing overseas property and needed to travel frequently. He acknowledged Locke’s ‘cavalier attitude’ in this instance but highlighted that Locke had been fully compliant with his registration order for the past three years.

Keppe also remarked, “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?”

By the time of sentencing, Locke had already served 27 days in custody on bail. The magistrates subsequently released him after sentencing.