CONNOR BURDETT FROM SANDIACRE SENT BACK TO PRISON FOR FAILING TO REGISTER HIS ADDRESS

In December 2020, a serious legal setback befell Connor Burdett, a known sex offender from Sandiacre, who has been returned to incarceration due to his failure to comply with mandatory registration laws. The incident was brought to light during a court hearing at Derby Crown Court, where it was revealed that Burdett, aged 28, had previously been cautioned by police for attempting to initiate sexual communication with an underage girl. Despite this caution, he was required to adhere to strict conditions, including registering his current address with law enforcement within three days of any move.

However, Burdett did not follow through with this obligation. Instead of updating his details, he failed to inform the police of his new residence, which led to his subsequent arrest and charges. Since October, he has been held at Nottingham Prison, awaiting further legal proceedings. The court heard that this breach of the sex offender registration requirements was a serious violation of the conditions imposed upon him.

During the hearing, Judge Shaun Smith QC addressed Burdett via a video link, emphasizing the importance of personal responsibility. The judge stated, “Mr. Burdett, you have really got to start taking responsibility. You are someone that seems to think you don’t have to do what you do have to do. Well, you do, and when you leave prison today, you will have to go to a police station within three days and tell them where you are living. Do you understand that?”

To which Burdett responded affirmatively, “Yes.” The judge further inquired about his plans after release, and Burdett replied that he intended to go to the police station and then to his mother’s house. The judge pressed him on what he would do if he moved away from his mother’s residence, to which Burdett confirmed that he would need to inform the police of his new whereabouts.

Prosecutor Siward James-Moore provided context, explaining that the original offence occurred in 2019. He detailed that Burdett had received a police caution on August 20 of that year for attempting to engage in sexual communication with a child. The case involved a decoy rather than a real child, but the legal obligations remained the same. Despite being placed on the sex offender register, Burdett failed to notify the police of his address change within the required timeframe.

Ultimately, Burdett, of Victoria Road, Sandiacre, pleaded guilty to breaching the notification requirements of the sex offender register. The court’s decision underscores the importance of compliance with legal obligations for registered sex offenders, and Burdett’s failure to do so has resulted in his return to prison, highlighting the ongoing challenges in managing and monitoring offenders within the community.