Description
A convicted rapist admitted he had "no excuse" after being caught breaching the requirements of the sex offenders' register for the 12th time. Andrew Prince "fell at the first hurdle" within days of his release from his latest spell in prison and has now been put back behind bars.
Liverpool Crown Court heard yesterday, Monday, that the now 45-year-old was convicted of two counts of rape in 2005 and sentenced to 10 years. This also saw him handed an indefinite notification requirement, but he has since breached the terms of this court order on numerous occasions.
Christopher Taylor, prosecuting, described how Prince, of no fixed address, was released from a 16-month term for failing to comply with notification requirements on June 3 this year. He was required to inform the police of his address within three days of his release under the terms of the sex offenders' register, but was circulated as being wanted having failed to do so within 11 days.
This led to his arrest in Liverpool city centre at around 8pm on June 15. Under interview, Prince told detectives: "I chose not to, I have no excuse."
His criminal record shows a total of 28 previous convictions for 42 offences, dating back to 1998. These include 11 previous entries for breaching notification requirements, as well as for dishonesty and public order matters.
Olivia Beesley, defending, told the court: "He understands that, because of his repeated offending, he will have to be punished severely. Drinking is at the root of him not being able to seek or maintain housing. On some occasions, upon his release from custody, he ends up drinking immediately and rough sleeping. He suffers from depression, anxiety and severe paranoia as well.
"He falls at the first hurdle. As soon as he is released he drinks, and he does not attend immediately or attends while drunk. He realises that drinking clearly isn't the way forward for him, and he is frustrated with himself. He needs some kind of support network when he is released.
"Quite simply, he has not been able to achieve that yet. His aim this time, upon release from custody, is not to drink at all. He can see from the previous 12 occasions this pattern is just continuing. He tells me that he does not want to use alcohol as an excuse."
Prince admitted one count of breaching notification requirements. Appearing via video link to HMP Altcourse, he was jailed for a year.
Sentencing, Judge Denis Watson KC said: "The public has a very real and legitimate concern that the police know the whereabouts of those who have committed very serious sexual offences when at liberty in the community. Your obligation is to tell the police about your circumstances, whether you are homeless or not.
"You have repeatedly failed to tell the police about your situation, your whereabouts and circumstances. This is, I am told, the told time you have failed to comply with notification requirements.
"It is, it seems, not just a question of you drinking on your release and becoming a rough sleeper or homeless. Alongside that, you are perfect well aware of your obligations to register and you choose not to which makes your position particularly serious."
Prince nodded and replied "thank you" after receiving his sentence.