TYNESIDE RAPIST SECRETLY LIVES IN ABERDEENSHIRE FOR OVER A YEAR WITHOUT POLICE KNOWLEDGE
A man known as Allan Thompson, also called Bates, who previously committed a serious sex crime at the age of 16, moved to Aboyne in December 2021 without informing police or his new partner.Despite being on the sex offender’s register "indefinitely" after serving a seven-year sentence for his 2007 rape conviction, Thompson relocated from Tyneside and lived under the radar for more than a year.
He was only discovered when he threatened his girlfriend with a knife during an incident at their home.
Thompson was involved in an assault on his partner, during which he wielded a knife, held it to his own throat, and caused distress to his partner.
Court proceedings revealed that he failed to notify police of his change of address, which is a legal requirement for convicted sex offenders within three days of moving.
He pleaded guilty to this failure and to assaulting his partner.
Sheriff Margaret Hodge sentenced Thompson to 70 days in prison and imposed a non-harassment order preventing him from approaching his partner for three years.
The court heard that Thompson had lived with his partner in Aboyne after meeting her online, and that he had been concerned about her reaction to his criminal history, which led to his neglect in updating police records.
This case highlights issues in offender management and the importance of compliance with notification laws.