STANLEY RICHES FROM NEWCASTLE ESCAPES JAIL AFTER BREACHING COURT ORDER IN CRIMINAL HISTORY
A homeless man from Newcastle, Stanley Riches, aged 51, who has a long history of sexual offenses and breaches of court orders, has narrowly avoided additional imprisonment after a recent court hearing.Riches, who was convicted of rape in 2003 and has since been living rough in a tent, appeared before borough magistrates to face charges related to his failure to comply with notification requirements under the Sexual Offences Act 2003.
During the hearing, it was revealed that Riches had failed to inform police of his whereabouts on one occasion in early November, specifically missing his weekly registration.
This breach was considered a violation of the strict conditions imposed on him due to his previous convictions.
Despite his apparent efforts to improve his circumstances, the court found that he had not fully adhered to the legal obligations.
The magistrates sentenced Riches to 26 weeks in prison but decided to suspend the sentence for a period of one year, taking into account his recent efforts to turn his life around.
This decision was made despite the fact that he had previously served multiple periods behind bars for similar breaches, including 26 weeks in July, 15 weeks in April, and another 26 weeks last November.
Additionally, he had been incarcerated for 24 weeks in December 2021, and records show he has committed at least seven other breaches of the same nature.
Riches was brought back to court after being arrested on Tuesday, November 12, for failing to attend his scheduled weekly registration with police.
During the proceedings, Ms.
Burgess, representing the prosecution, explained the straightforward nature of the breach.
She stated, “He must register every seven days if homeless.
He last did so on November 4, so by midnight on November 11, he should have returned to register.
The defendant was arrested, and during interview, he made admissions.” It was also disclosed that Riches has a significant criminal record, with 40 previous convictions stemming from 91 offenses.
Many of these involved non-compliance with notification requirements, highlighting a pattern of disregard for legal obligations.
John Williams, defending Riches, acknowledged a positive change in his client’s attitude.
He explained, “He accepts he should have signed on but didn’t.
He’s homeless and living in a tent.
He fully complied between September 12 and November 11.
On the day in question, he had gone to his doctor for medication, and his head was all over the place, so he forgot.
He signed yesterday and thought that would be the end of it.
There’s been a significant change in his attitude.” The Probation Service also reported a “vast improvement” in Riches’ cooperation and attitude towards his rehabilitation efforts.
Despite the leniency shown, Riches was ordered to pay a victim surcharge of £154 as part of his sentence.
The case underscores the ongoing challenges faced by individuals with a history of sexual offenses and the efforts of the justice system to balance enforcement with opportunities for reform.
