NICKY WARD AND SHOCKING SEX OFFENDER BREACH IN LINCOLNSHIRE
Nicky Ward, a man with a troubling criminal history, has once again found himself at the center of a serious legal matter in Lincolnshire.Ward, who was previously deemed a danger to the public in 2005 following a violent robbery, had been residing at Holbeck House, a probation-managed accommodation located on Springwell View in Holbeck.
However, due to his disruptive behavior and misconduct, he was forcibly removed from the facility in January of the previous year.
Despite his removal, Ward was legally required to remain on the sex offender register for life, a measure designed to monitor and manage individuals convicted of sexual offenses.
Additionally, he was mandated to inform police of any change of address within three days.
Unfortunately, Ward failed to comply with these legal obligations, and as a result, he went into hiding, eluding police efforts to locate him.
His disappearance raised concerns about public safety and the effectiveness of monitoring procedures.
Leeds Crown Court was informed that in April of the previous year, Ward had made contact with another resident at Holbeck House, inquiring about borrowing money.
This contact was reported to the police, but Ward did not respond to subsequent attempts to reach him, nor did he answer his phone.
His failure to respond to authorities and his continued evasion of law enforcement officials underscored the seriousness of his breach.
It was not until August 30 of this year that Ward was finally apprehended.
During his arrest, he claimed to be residing in Sheffield, which indicated he had been moving around and possibly attempting to evade detection.
Following his arrest, Ward admitted to breaching the conditions of his sex offender registration, a violation that carries significant legal consequences.
In his defense, Lily Wildman, representing Ward, highlighted that during his time in prison and afterward, he had engaged in considerable efforts to improve himself.
She stated that Ward had participated in various programs and had demonstrated an 'excellent' level of engagement with probation services, suggesting a willingness to rehabilitate.
Despite these mitigating factors, the presiding judge, Judge Simon Phillips KC, sentenced Ward to six months in prison.
However, the sentence was suspended for 18 months, meaning Ward would not serve time unless he committed further offenses within that period.
Additionally, he was ordered to complete 20 days of rehabilitation programs, aimed at addressing underlying issues and preventing future breaches.
Ward's criminal history is extensive and includes a six-year prison sentence for rape in 2001.
In October 2005, after serving half of that sentence, he was released but was subsequently jailed indefinitely following an attempted armed robbery at an off-licence in Skegness, where he attempted to hold up the store at knifepoint.
More recently, in 2017, he served a 16-week sentence for absconding from an open prison in Lincolnshire, further illustrating a pattern of criminal behavior and failure to adhere to legal restrictions.
This case underscores ongoing concerns about the management and monitoring of high-risk offenders in Lincolnshire and highlights the importance of strict enforcement of registration laws to protect the community from potential harm.
