JOSHUA DUNNING, BLACKBURN SEX OFFENDER, GOES OFF THE RAILS AFTER BEING EVICTED FROM SHELTER
In June 2022, a concerning incident unfolded involving Joshua Henry Dunning, an 18-year-old sex offender from Blackburn.The case drew attention to the challenges of monitoring offenders who fail to comply with legal requirements, especially after losing their accommodation.
Blackburn magistrates heard that Dunning had been residing in sheltered accommodation at Whittle Court but was abruptly expelled from the facility.
Following his eviction, he failed to inform the police of his new whereabouts, effectively going off the grid and making it difficult for authorities to track him.
It was revealed during the hearing that Dunning did not disclose his current address to law enforcement agencies, nor did he notify them of his living arrangements.
When he was eventually located, it was discovered that he had been staying with his girlfriend, who was caring for a young child, specifically an 18-month-old.
This situation raised concerns because Dunning had been residing at this address for over 12 hours without informing the police, which is a breach of the conditions set for sex offenders under registration laws.
Dunning, who had no fixed address at the time, pleaded guilty to charges related to failing to meet the requirements of his sex offender registration.
These charges included not informing the police of his new address and staying at an address where a child was present for more than 12 hours without proper notification.
He was remanded on bail to allow for the preparation of a pre-sentence report, as the court considered the appropriate next steps in his case.
Prosecutor Suzanne Ludlow explained that Dunning was supposed to report any change of address or lack thereof within three days of moving.
However, after being expelled from Whittle Court, he did not comply with this obligation.
Miss Ludlow further stated that law enforcement agencies had been actively trying to locate Dunning, and it was nearly a month before they discovered his whereabouts at his partner’s residence, where her young child was also present.
This delay underscored the difficulties faced by authorities in tracking offenders who fail to adhere to registration laws and the importance of compliance for public safety.
