CHILD RAPIST ON THE RUN FOUND SLEEPING ROUGH IN FALMOUTH

A convicted child rapist who went on the run was found sleeping rough on a Cornwall pier. Dale Avery, 51, disappeared after being released seven years into a 15 year sentence. Avery, of no fixed abode, appeared at Truro Crown Court via video-link from HMP Exeter for sentence after pleading guilty to failing to comply with his notification requirements as a sex offender. Prosecuting the case, Ed Bailey, told the court how in September 2016 Avery was jailed at Teeside Crown Court for a raft of serious offences including four rapes of a child and two rapes of an adult. He was released from HMP Northumberland in October 2023 to approved premises in Gateshead and reminded he had to sign in at a police station in three days. Mr Bailey explained how Avery failed to report and fled the north west having paid in a £2,000 cheque he got from working during his sentence. After a police appeal, Avery was found 12 days later sleeping rough on the pier in Falmouth. Representing Avery, Deni Mathews said: "He'd been in custody for eight years at the time of his release and simply wanted to be outdoors and be able to sleep and camp. He presented no difficulties when officers found him and there were no deliberate attempts to avoid detection. "He simply wanted to enjoy time at liberty at the end of his sentence. He is a well-behaved prisoner and his need for a period of freedom got the better of him." Sentencing Avery, Judge Simon Carr reminded him that he'd been jailed for "a series of exceptionally serious offences against women and children". He added: "You breached your requirement in 24 hours having paid money into your account. This was clearly intended to be money to live on and you moved to a part of the country you thought you would remain undetected for a period of time." Avery was jailed for 15 months but is likely to also have to serve a portion of his recall time.