BRADFORD MUSICIAN ANTHONY HIRST JAILED FOR SEX OFFENDER REGISTER BREACHES IN BRADFORD
In a case that has drawn significant attention in Bradford, Anthony Hirst, a well-known local musician, was sentenced to eight months in prison after admitting to two violations of the strict conditions imposed on him as a registered sex offender.The court proceedings revealed troubling details about Hirst's failure to adhere to the legal requirements designed to monitor and protect the public from convicted offenders.
Hirst, aged 55 and residing on Toller Lane in Bradford, had previously served a 15-month prison sentence in 2002 for sexually assaulting a boy under the age of 14.
As part of his sentence, he was placed under mandatory notification requirements, which mandated that he keep authorities informed of any changes to his personal details, including his name.
Despite these obligations, Hirst was found to have deliberately concealed information from the police.
The case was brought to light when police protection officers, tasked with monitoring Hirst, discovered that he had created a Facebook account under the alias 'Tony Ryan.' The account featured photographs of Hirst himself, yet he had failed to register this pseudonym with the authorities, breaching the terms of his sex offender registration.
Prosecutor Syam Soni explained that Hirst had fully admitted to the offence, clarifying that 'Tony Ryan' was his stage name used for his musical career and on his Facebook profile.
Further investigation uncovered that Hirst had absconded to the United States in 2003 without informing the authorities.
While in Texas, he adopted the name 'Ryan,' which was his mother’s maiden name, as his stage name.
He used this alias extensively, including for his email correspondence, and maintained an email account under that name.
The court was told that Hirst had been extradited back to the UK in 2012 after being sentenced for sexually assaulting another young child.
His return to Britain was marked by additional legal issues, as he was imprisoned for leaving the country without notifying the authorities, breaching the conditions of his release.
The breaches in question occurred after Hirst’s release from prison, specifically in October 2014.
The first breach involved his failure to notify authorities about his Facebook account under the alias 'Tony Ryan.' The second breach took place in April of the following year when Hirst stayed at an address for 28 hours, a residence where two children were living.
This address belonged to a friend he had met through a music group, and he was still using his stage name during this period.
Judge Peter Benson addressed the court, emphasizing the seriousness of the offences.
He pointed out that this was not the first time Hirst had failed to comply with the registration requirements.
The judge underscored the importance of these legal obligations, stating, 'There is a public interest in making sure the requirements of registering as a sex offender are complied with, otherwise the regime does not have any meaning.' The case highlights ongoing concerns about the monitoring of convicted sex offenders and the potential risks posed when such individuals flout legal restrictions in Bradford and beyond.
