ANTHONY KIRKBRIGHT FROM ACCRINGTON AND NELSON CAUGHT POSEUR AND FAILING TO COMPLY WITH SEX OFFENDERS' RULES

In March 2017, a disturbing incident unfolded involving Anthony Kirkbright, a man with a long and troubling criminal history, who was found to be flouting the strict conditions of his sex offenders' registration. The case, which took place in Accrington, revealed a pattern of non-compliance and reckless behavior by Kirkbright, who has been convicted multiple times for sexual offenses against minors.

According to court reports, Kirkbright, aged 50 and originally from Nelson, was under supervision at Highfield House, a probation hostel in Accrington. Despite being reminded of his legal obligations to register and update his whereabouts, he was caught engaging in illicit activities shortly after his release from prison. Police, conducting a routine check on him, discovered numerous blank advertising cards in his room. These cards appeared to be used for clandestine advertising, which raised suspicions about his attempts to conceal his activities.

Further investigation led police to a local Tesco supermarket, where they found an explicit advertisement that read: “WANTED CLOGS. THEM WITH NO BACKS IN. KIM,” accompanied by Kirkbright’s phone number. This ad was clearly an attempt to advertise for clogs, but the use of a girl’s name and the context suggested a possible cover for illicit dealings. The police’s discovery of this ad was a significant breach of his legal obligations, especially considering his status as a registered sex offender.

Kirkbright’s criminal record is extensive. He was first convicted in 2001 for engaging in sexual intercourse with a girl under the age of 16. His criminal history also includes a conviction in November 2015, when he was sentenced to 17 months in prison for molesting a woman with learning difficulties and groping another victim in a public street. As part of his sentence, he was placed on the sex offenders’ register for a period of ten years.

His history of violations is compounded by previous court orders. In 2006, he was issued a Sexual Offences Prevention Order (SOPO) banning him from every camping site and caravan park across the country. This order was a response to an incident where he attempted to lure a 10-year-old girl to a caravan in Lancaster, offering her sweets and threatening her with violence. This was the second such order imposed on him, reflecting the seriousness of his offenses.

During the latest hearing, Kirkbright admitted to failing to comply with the conditions of his sex offenders’ registration. Prosecutor Mrs. Alex Mann highlighted that he had already breached the register by creating a fake Facebook profile shortly after his release on February 15th, which resulted in a four-week jail sentence. He was released again on March 16th, but police found the blank advertising cards during a check on March 22nd, indicating ongoing non-compliance.

It was also noted that Kirkbright suffers from mental health issues, a factor that his solicitor previously described as making him “rather pathetic.” Despite his mental health challenges, the court sentenced him to six weeks in prison, suspended for one year, and ordered him to pay a victim surcharge of £115. The bench chairman acknowledged the difficulty in sentencing, citing his extensive criminal record as a significant factor in the decision.

In a related case from March 2008, Kirkbright, then aged 41 and also from Nelson, was again brought before Burnley magistrates for failing to inform police of his current address, a requirement under his sex offenders’ order. Despite being barred from all caravan parks and campsites in the UK, he had failed to notify authorities twice, leading to his appearance before the court. He admitted to neglecting his registration duties and was conditionally discharged for six months, with a fine of £60 in costs.

During police questioning, Kirkbright claimed that he usually received reminders to update his address but had simply forgotten. His history includes multiple convictions, including the 2001 case of sexual intercourse with a minor and a 2006 order banning him from all caravan sites after attempting to lure a 10-year-old girl in Lancaster with sweets and threats. He also has two convictions for detaining children without authority.

His defense, represented by Neil Cronin, argued that the sex offenders’ order had been effective in managing Kirkbright’s behavior. The court was informed that he lives with his partner and is considered to have a mental impairment, factors that the court took into account when issuing the conditional discharge.