DAVID COWAN'S CUMBRIA CRIME: SEX OFFENDER FAILS TO REPORT STAY WITH CHILD IN WHITEHAVEN
In a serious breach of legal obligations, David Cowan, a registered sex offender residing in Cumbria, found himself in court after failing to notify authorities about his stay at a friend’s residence in Whitehaven, where a child was present.The incident underscores the ongoing responsibilities and strict legal requirements placed on individuals with prior sexual offence convictions.
According to the proceedings at Workington Magistrates’ Court, Cowan, aged 44, is subject to sex offender notification laws due to previous convictions related to sexual offences.
The court was informed that Cowan was legally mandated to inform police within three days if he resided at an address where a minor under the age of 18 was present or staying.
However, he neglected this duty, failing to notify authorities that he had been staying at a property in Whitehaven with a child on or before September 27.
The police, acting on an unannounced visit, arrived at Cowan’s address to conduct a routine check.
During this visit, officers discovered Cowan at the home of a friend, who also had a child present at the time.
Cowan was at the address along with the woman, who was previously in a relationship with him but now maintains a friendship.
It was revealed that Cowan had stayed at her residence “a couple of times” since August, with her child being present during those visits.
During police interviews, Cowan admitted to breaching the notification requirements by staying at the address while a child was present and failing to inform the authorities about his presence there.
He explained that although he had signed and received a copy of the notification obligations, he had not fully understood the details at the time.
Cowan insisted that he had not engaged in any unsupervised contact with the child, stating that he sleeps in the spare room and maintains a “good relationship” with the child.
The prosecution, led by Pamela Fee, highlighted that there had been “repeated breaches” and that the presence of a child during Cowan’s stays posed a potential risk.
Cowan, who appeared in court unrepresented, expressed his confusion about the legal requirements, saying, “I just didn’t really understand it.
I got out of prison, had no medication or anything.
I just signed away.
I didn’t check it or anything.” When questioned about the possible consequences of a custodial sentence, Cowan responded that imprisonment “would take me right back to the beginning again, with my mental health.” In sentencing, Magistrate Christine Williams stated that there was “no evidence” to suggest Cowan posed a risk to minors.
Nonetheless, she imposed an 18-month community order, which includes 26 days of specific programmes and 15 days of rehabilitation activities.
Additionally, Cowan was subjected to a four-month curfew and ordered to pay costs of £85 along with a victim surcharge of £114.
Cowan, a resident of Corkickle, Whitehaven, pleaded guilty earlier to failing to comply with the notification requirements of the Sex Offenders’ Register, highlighting the ongoing challenges faced by individuals under such legal obligations and the importance of strict enforcement to protect the community.
