DARRYN SEAMAN FROM SUNDERLAND AND WASHINGTON SENT BACK TO PRISON FOR FAILING TO UPDATE POLICE ON HIS LOCATION

In July 2021, Darryn Seaman, a man with a troubling criminal history, was once again brought before the courts in connection with his failure to comply with legal obligations related to his previous convictions. Seaman, who resides in Southcroft, Fatfield, Washington, has a long-standing record that includes a conviction for rape, which resulted in a five-year prison sentence handed down in 2007. Following his release, he was required to register as a sex offender for life and adhere to strict conditions designed to allow authorities to monitor his whereabouts and associations.

Despite these legal requirements, Seaman has repeatedly failed to keep police informed about his current address and living arrangements. The court heard that he has a total of ten previous convictions for fourteen different offences, highlighting a pattern of non-compliance and disregard for the law. His latest failure to update his details occurred after his relationship with his ex-partner broke down in May of the previous year. Although he moved out of their shared home in Southcroft, Washington, he continued to stay there intermittently until September, which added to the confusion about his actual residence.

Over the course of a year, Seaman resided at various locations, including a notable stay at Toll Bar House on Ryhope Road in Sunderland. On several occasions, he was also found living in a van, a situation he claimed he was unaware he was required to report to police. Prosecutor Michael Bunch explained that Seaman failed to notify authorities of his address changes, providing the same Southcroft address in Washington on multiple occasions in September and April of the following year. Furthermore, in May, he supplied a new address at Penyghent Way, also in Washington, but failed to inform police that he had moved from his previous residence.

According to the prosecution, from the time Seaman left his original address in Southcroft on May 10 of the previous year until he registered his new address on May 13 of the following year, police were kept in the dark about his actual location. This was because Seaman actively misled authorities about where he was living, which is a serious breach of the conditions imposed upon him as a registered sex offender.

Seaman was arrested on June 16 and subsequently admitted that he had been living at various addresses without informing the police, citing that it was simply 'easier' not to do so. His appearance at Newcastle Crown Court on Thursday saw him plead guilty to the charge of failing to comply with the notification requirements. The presiding judge, Recorder Carl Gumsley, sentenced him to 24 weeks in prison, with the understanding that he would serve half of that term behind bars.

During the sentencing, Recorder Gumsley emphasized the importance of obeying court orders, warning Seaman that unless he changes his behavior, he risks facing the full five-year sentence originally imposed for his rape conviction. The judge also ordered Seaman to pay a victim surcharge, underscoring the seriousness of his repeated non-compliance and the ongoing risk he poses to the community.