Locations
Lewis Street, Hartshill, Stoke-On-Trent, Staffordshire, ST4
Description
A convicted sex offender has been branded devious - after failing to tell police he was engaged to a woman with two boys.
Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court heard that Richard Anthony Hudson had stayed overnight at her family home on 15 to 20 occasions.
He also contacted an ex-girlfriend, who unwittingly sent him a picture of her six-year-old daughter. She was left shell-shocked when she discovered his vile past.
Now 47-year-old Hudson has been given a 16-month prison sentence after admitting three counts of breaching notification requirements.
He is subject to the lifetime requirements following convictions for sex offences. It meant he had to inform the police if he took part in certain activities, such as being in a household where children resided.
Hudson, of Lewis Street, Stoke, was released from an extended prison term in 2019.
Hunter Gray, prosecuting, said: From at least August 25, 2020, the defendant was using an Instagram account under the name AntHunt37.
He had used the account to contact a former girlfriend, who had three daughters.
During a conversation, the woman sent him a picture of her youngest child, unaware Hudson was a sexual predator.
The court was told that the picture was unsolicited and the defendant did not request any other images.
She wasnt the only person to be conned by him. He had been in a relationship with another female since 2012 and they later became engaged.
Hudson stayed at her house on numerous occasions between September and December last year.
It meant he had breached the notification requirements as he was there for more than a 12-hour period. It emerged he had been regularly staying overnight.
Hudson went to some effort to conceal the relationship from police.
Mr Gray said he was classed as very high risk. His record includes 13 convictions for 19 offences, including sexual crimes.
The defendants extended licence period wasnt due to run out until July 2024. Following the latest offence, he was recalled to prison.
Rachel Pennington, mitigating, said: He wants to express his apology and remorse to the court. He knows he should have notified police.
She added that Hudson had not intended to cause either woman any harm.
He was burying his head in the sand, trying to hide his past, said Ms Pennington.
Sentencing him, Judge Paul Glenn told Hudson: You, Im afraid, have shown yourself to be a devious person.