MATTHEW DIAMOND BREACHES SEX OFFENDER REGISTER IN NEWPORT

In July 2018, Matthew Diamond, a convicted sex offender residing in Newport, found himself in legal trouble once again, this time for failing to adhere to the strict requirements of the sex offender register. The incident unfolded when authorities discovered that Diamond, aged 26 and living at Ocean Court on East Dock Road, had not informed the relevant authorities that he was spending his weekends at his girlfriend’s residence in Newport.

Diamond had previously been convicted of serious sexual offenses. In 2016, he was sentenced to 12 months in prison after being found guilty of three counts of sexual assault against a girl under the age of 13. His criminal record is extensive, with 11 previous convictions covering a total of 19 offenses, including multiple breaches of court orders.

The breach came to light during a police response to a domestic disturbance call on March 18 of that year at Baldwin Street in Newport. When officers arrived at the scene, they conducted an investigation into the incident. During their inquiry, they discovered that Diamond was spending his weekends at his new partner, Melissa Hawkins’s home. It was revealed that the couple had met at the Greyhound pub in Newport. Importantly, the police found no evidence of any offense being committed during their investigation of the domestic disturbance.

However, the authorities confirmed that Diamond had been staying with his girlfriend, but he had not disclosed this information to the sex offender register authorities, nor had he informed them when her children were at home. This omission constituted a breach of his legal obligations as a registered sex offender.

At Newport Crown Court, prosecutor Lowri Wynn Morgan outlined the case, emphasizing the seriousness of the breach given Diamond’s criminal history. The court was informed that despite his previous convictions, the court was considering a non-custodial sentence. Recorder Patrick Harrington QC addressed Diamond directly, stating, “This offence does not deserve a custodial sentence.”

Following the recommendations laid out in a detailed pre-sentence report prepared by the Probation Service, the judge decided on a community-based penalty. Diamond was sentenced to an 18-month community order, which includes mandatory attendance at a thinking skills programme aimed at addressing behavioral issues and preventing future breaches. The court’s decision underscores the importance of monitoring and rehabilitating offenders, especially those with a history of sexual offenses and repeated breaches of legal requirements.