MAURICE FERRITER FROM FLINTSHIRE AND EXETER JAILED FOR FAILURE TO REGISTER AS SEX OFFENDER
In a case that highlights ongoing concerns about the monitoring of convicted sex offenders, Maurice Ferriter, a man with a long history of non-compliance, has been sentenced to prison after failing to adhere to registration requirements.Ferriter, who has ties to both Flintshire and Exeter, was living homeless in Exeter at the time of his latest breach, fearing that revealing his past convictions might make him a target of violence from other homeless individuals.
Ferriter, aged 49, had been required to register as a sex offender following his conviction for sexually assaulting a barmaid at a pub in Flintshire in 2012.
His sentence for that crime was three and a half years in prison, and he was ordered to sign the sex offender register for life.
Despite these legal obligations, Ferriter repeatedly failed to comply with the registration scheme, which is designed to allow police to monitor sex offenders and prevent further crimes.
According to court records, Ferriter was supposed to sign on every week at a police station, but he neglected this duty multiple times.
His failure to do so went unnoticed for three months until authorities finally apprehended him in Exeter in October.
During this period, he was living rough, and his fear of being attacked by other homeless individuals who might discover his past kept him from registering.
His reluctance to comply with the law was compounded by his history of breaches; he had previously been jailed for similar offences.
In April 2021, Ferriter was sentenced to 24 weeks in prison for a similar breach of registration conditions.
He was released after serving half of that sentence in August of the same year.
Following his release, he signed on at a police station in Plymouth for a brief period of two weeks but then failed to register again.
His continued non-compliance led to his arrest in Exeter, where he has been remanded in custody ever since.
At Exeter Crown Court, Recorder Mr.
Christopher Quinlan, QC, sentenced Ferriter to an additional year in prison for his ninth breach of the registration conditions.
The court heard that Ferriter’s repeated failures to register undermine efforts to monitor sex offenders and protect the public.
Ferriter, who is now 47, has a documented history of non-compliance, which has resulted in multiple incarcerations.
His case underscores the ongoing challenges faced by law enforcement agencies in ensuring that convicted offenders adhere to registration laws, especially those who are homeless and vulnerable.
