Young Sex Offender Warned After Failing to Notify Police of Irvine Address

A sex offender who failed to inform police of a change in his address has been cautioned and warned about his lack of maturity. Shane Johnson, aged 19, appeared before Kilmarnock Sheriff Court after pleading guilty to multiple charges. He admitted to neglecting the requirement to notify officers of his residence, failing to inform them that he was living in Irvine from December 10 to December 23 of the previous year, and again from December 31 to January 13 of the current year. Johnson had also breached a sexual harm prevention order imposed at East Hampshire Magistrates Court in April 2023, which prohibited him from sharing a residence with children under 16 unless given written consent from social services. He lived with a child under 16 at an Irvine address between December 21 and January 4, a period during which he also failed to register his whereabouts with police. Described as a 'high risk offender,' Johnson was convicted in England earlier in 2023. The court was told that after moving to Irvine in December 2022, Johnson failed to attend police to update his address, returning to England for Christmas before coming back in the new year. His family raised concerns about his past convictions, prompting police to conduct a risk assessment, which resulted in him being charged for breaching his notification obligations. His solicitor acknowledged previous convictions and the impact of his recent incarceration, which he said was a wake-up call. The sheriff noted Johnson's immaturity and the seriousness of his actions, opting for a supervision order for 12 months and 120 hours of unpaid work as sentencing. Johnson expressed remorse, though he downplayed the severity of his sexual offence, claiming misinformation about the child's age. The court emphasized his high risk status but showed leniency, serving a sentence with conditions aimed at rehabilitation.