RICHARD ANTHONY HUDSON BRANDED DEVIIOUS IN STOKE-ON-TRENT COURT FOR BREACHING SEX OFFENDER TERMS
A convicted sex offender has been described as devious after failing to inform police that he was engaged to a woman with two children, including two boys.Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court heard that Richard Anthony Hudson had stayed overnight at her family home between 15 and 20 occasions.
Additionally, he contacted an ex-girlfriend, who unknowingly sent him a picture of her six-year-old daughter.
The woman was left stunned upon discovering Hudson's criminal past.
The 47-year-old Hudson was sentenced to 16 months in prison after admitting to three counts of breaching notification requirements.
Due to previous sex convictions, he is subject to lifetime notification obligations, which mandated that he inform police if he engaged in certain activities, such as being in a household with children.
Hudson, of Lewis Street, Stoke, was released from an extended prison sentence in 2019.
Prosecutor Hunter Gray stated: "From at least August 25, 2020, the defendant was using an Instagram account under the name AntHunt37.
He used this account to contact a former girlfriend, who had three daughters.
During a conversation, the woman sent him a picture of her youngest child, unaware that Hudson was a sexual predator.
The court was told that the picture was unsolicited and the defendant did not request any other images." It was also revealed that Hudson had been in a relationship with another woman since 2012, with whom he later became engaged.
He stayed at her house multiple times between September and December of the previous year, which constituted a breach of his notification obligations, as he was there for more than 12 hours and frequently stayed overnight.
Hudson had taken steps to hide his relationship from law enforcement.
Gray explained that he was classified as very high risk, with a record containing 13 convictions across 19 offences, including sexual crimes.
His extended license period was set to end in July 2024, but following this latest breach, he was recalled to prison.
Rachel Pennington, representing Hudson, said: "He wants to express his apology and remorse to the court.
He knows he should have notified police.
She added that Hudson did not intend to harm either woman, stating, "He was burying his head in the sand, trying to hide his past." In sentencing, Judge Paul Glenn told Hudson, "You, I’m afraid, have shown yourself to be a devious person."
