ASHLEY BARRATT FROM ACCRINGTON AND BLACKBURN JAILED FOR FAILURE TO REPORT AS A SEX OFFENDER
In a series of legal proceedings spanning from 2017 to 2021, Ashley Barratt, a known sex offender with ties to Accrington and Blackburn, has faced multiple convictions and jail sentences for failing to comply with statutory reporting requirements.The most recent incident occurred in January 2021, when Barratt, 32, who was registered as a high-risk sex offender following his 2013 conviction for possessing indecent images of children, was found to have failed to notify Blackburn Police of his current address or his homelessness status within the three-day window mandated by law.
Despite being given this deadline, Barratt did not provide any information about his whereabouts, which led to his arrest and subsequent sentencing.
Blackburn magistrates heard that Barratt, who was then without a fixed address, pleaded guilty to the charge of failing to comply with the notification requirements.
As a result, he was sentenced to 12 weeks in prison and ordered to pay a victim surcharge of £128 upon his release.
Prosecutor Samantha Hayward emphasized that Barratt’s failure to report was a serious breach, especially considering his prior conviction and high-risk status.
Earlier, in May 2019, Barratt, then 30 and residing at Highfield House on Lydia Street in Accrington, was also jailed for failing to sign the sex offenders register after being released on bail.
The court heard that Barratt had a lengthy record of breaches related to his sex offender registration, with numerous violations since his original 2013 conviction.
Prosecutor Catherine Allan stated that Barratt had been jailed previously for similar breaches and was before the court again for failing to update police on his address.
During the May 2019 hearing, Barratt admitted to failing to comply with the registration requirements.
His defense lawyer, Ian Huggan, argued that the breach was minimal, describing it as the lowest level possible.
Barratt had been released on bail to live at a bail hostel in Accrington, and police were aware of his residence there.
However, he was arrested when he failed to attend the police station to sign the necessary documentation, despite being compliant and remaining at his bail address.
Adding to his troubled record, in October 2013, Barratt was convicted of possessing indecent images of children, which led to his initial registration as a sex offender.
In 2017, police issued an appeal to locate him after he was recalled to custody following his failure to adhere to reporting obligations.
He was subsequently found and arrested, bringing an end to his period of eluding authorities.
Throughout these incidents, Barratt’s repeated failures to comply with legal requirements highlight ongoing issues with adherence to sex offender registration laws, raising concerns about public safety and the effectiveness of monitoring systems in place to prevent reoffending or further violations.
