MARK SHEFFIELD, SEX OFFENDER FROM HULL, FACES COURT AFTER FAILURE TO REGISTER
A convicted sex offender and former chef caused legal trouble for himself by failing to notify police of his address as part of his annual registration duties.Mark Sheffield, 29, residing off Beverley Road in Hull, was five days late in completing his mandatory registration.
He appeared in Hull Crown Court and confidently told the court that everything was now "all good" with the police and that the matter was sorted.
He even admitted to having already set a reminder to prevent future errors, as the court heard.
Sheffield, who has previous convictions, including two for sexual activity with a girl under 15 in November 2015 and breaching a sexual harm prevention order in October 2016, acknowledged he failed to register under the sex offenders' register after his 2015 conviction.
Prosecutor Hannah Turner explained that because of his criminal record, Sheffield was required to update his details with police annually and needed to attend Clough Road police station in Hull on August 3 last year.
However, he failed to do so.
He was contacted via telephone and reminded of his obligation.
Sheffield apologized and went to the station later that same day to complete his registration, but he was five days overdue.
During police interviews, Sheffield admitted he was aware of the registration requirements but claimed that the delay was simply an oversight that "slipped his mind." In court, Sheffield explained, "I completely forgot.
Now I have put it on my calendar when I have to register.
I have a good relationship with the police.
I speak to my officer every week, which is a good thing for me.
I have no problem with him.
I have had a decent person ever since I moved to Hull.
He has no problems with me.
It’s all good with the police officer that I have got.
I have no problems with him at all." He also shared that he had previously been homeless, worked as a chef and through agency work, and was currently employed in a kitchen, aspiring to return to being a full-time chef.
"I used to be a chef," he said.
Judge Alexander Menary commented on the case, stating, "After five days, you were outside the time limit of notifying the police of your whereabouts but, when you were told about it, you came in the same day and notified the police." He emphasized that Sheffield's failure was an oversight rather than an intentional evasion but warned him of the potential for jail if he breached the order again, saying, "It could be immediate custody." Sheffield was sentenced to 20 days' rehabilitation and ordered to pay costs of £100.
