JAMES HIRST SENTENCED IN SWANSEA AFTER BREACHES WHILE ON SEX OFFENDER REGISTER

During a hearing at Swansea Crown Court, a judge declared, "The law will win," as he quoted The Clash before sentencing sex offender James Hirst to prison. The 32-year-old Hirst was placed on the sex offenders register indefinitely in 2015 after being sentenced to six years for sexual assault, prosecutor Sian Cutter explained.

As part of his registration, Hirst was required to notify police of any address he stayed at for seven days or more within a 12-month period, or if he stayed there for at least 12 hours while an under-18 was present or residing. He was also mandated to update his contact details and address with police annually.

In February, Hirst was convicted of an unrelated offence—sending malicious messages to his mother—and was sentenced to a community order, with an electronic tag placed on him, Ms. Cutter said. Shortly after, police received an alert from the tag indicating that Hirst had spent the night at an address on Ffordd Aneurin in Pontyberem on February 11 and 12. Authorities responded by attending the address on February 13, where Hirst was arrested. The homeowner stated she and Hirst were just friends and that she knew Hirst was a sex offender; she had invited him to stay at her house where her children aged 13, nine, and six also lived.

Hirst later claimed he thought he was still within the three-day notification window to inform police. However, he was re-arrested on April 20 after missing a police appointment to update his contact details. During the investigation, officers seized his mobile phone and found that Hirst had stayed at the same address from January 15 to 26, and again on January 30.

Hirst, who resides on High Street in Narberth, has an extensive criminal record with eight convictions for 14 prior offences, including a breach of sex offender registration requirements in 2019. In court, defence lawyer Mr. Griffiths stated, "It’s simply the case he believes these requirements are interfering with his ability to develop normal friendships and relationships."

Judge Paul Thomas described Hirst’s breaches as "blatant" and added that Hirst’s partner was "lucky not to be facing a prison sentence" for attempting to interfere with the course of justice.

Hirst received a 12-month sentence for the initial two breaches, which will run concurrently. Additionally, he was sentenced to three months for failing to attend the police appointment, also served concurrently.