GEORGE HARDING FROM PLYMOUTH JAILED FOR SEX OFFENDER BREACH IN PLYMOUTH
In November 2016, a man from Plymouth who became a sex offender at the age of just 12 has faced imprisonment after failing to notify authorities of a change in his residential address.George Harding, now 21 years old, was sentenced to six months in prison for violating the conditions set by a court order that was designed to monitor his activities and ensure public safety.
Harding had previously received a suspended prison sentence after being convicted of serious child sex offences committed between the ages of 12 and 17.
The Plymouth Crown Court heard that he had been living a transient lifestyle, spending approximately nine months 'sofa-surfing' away from his registered address at his father's home in Plymouth.
This pattern of behaviour led to further legal repercussions.
Judge Ian Lawrie addressed Harding directly during the hearing, emphasizing the importance of respecting court orders regardless of personal circumstances.
He stated, "I accept you have buried your head in the sand, but whatever the chaos in your particular life, ultimately this order has to be respected." The judge highlighted that Harding was currently held at Exeter Prison and had pleaded guilty to breaching the requirements of his sex offender registration between January and October of that year.
It was revealed that Harding had already breached his registration conditions once before, resulting in a jail sentence that would last until April of the following year.
The recent breach involved him leaving his registered address in January and failing to inform police of his whereabouts.
When authorities attempted to locate him in July, he could not be found.
It was only in October that police managed to apprehend him.
The court was informed that Harding was required to notify police every time he changed his address, a legal obligation he neglected.
William Parkhill, representing the Crown Prosecution Service, explained that Harding's failure to update his details constituted a serious breach of his court-imposed conditions.
Mike Brown, defending Harding, described his client’s lifestyle as chaotic and acknowledged that Harding had "buried his head in the sand." Brown also noted that Harding was making constructive use of his time in prison, implying a degree of remorse or a desire for rehabilitation.
In conclusion, Harding was sentenced to an additional six months, with the understanding that he would serve half of this period.
The sentence was structured so that it would not extend his overall time behind bars, considering his previous incarceration.
The case underscores the ongoing challenges faced by authorities in monitoring sex offenders and the importance of compliance with legal requirements to protect the community.
