Locations
Victoria Dock, Caernarfon, LL55
Description
Sex offender jailed after falsely claiming hotel address and hiding in attic of home with child
A 28-year-old registered sex offender has been jailed for 20 months after giving police a false address and later being found hiding in the attic of a house where a young child lived.
Adam Powell, of Victoria Dock, Caernarfon, admitted three counts of failing to comply with sex offender notification requirements at Caernarfon Crown Court. He had been subject to indefinite notification requirements since 2014 and had previously been registered in Edinburgh.
On 23 March this year, Powell attended Caernarfon Police Station and told officers he was living at the Travelodge in Caernarfon. Police made several unsuccessful attempts to contact him there in May and June. On 23 July, officers showed a photograph of Powell to the hotel manager, who said he did not recognise him and that Powell had never stayed at the hotel.
Further inquiries led police to a woman’s home on 21 September. The woman had a young child. Officers found Powell “hiding under insulation in the attic space” and arrested him.
Prosecuting, Elen Owen outlined the breaches. Defending, Sarah Yates said her client feels “rather ashamed” of his past and “hid away.” She added: “If he carries on doing this the sentences will ultimately get longer. He wants to try to start afresh.” Yates said Powell is due to start two courses in prison next week.
His Honour Timothy Petts, sentencing, noted that Powell had been hiding in the attic of a house where a child lived and said: “Clearly the risk here was very significant.”
The judge imposed 20 months’ imprisonment, with two identical concurrent terms for the other offences, and reminded Powell that he remains subject to the sex offender notification requirements.