KIRKBY STEPHEN MAN FACES JAIL AFTER BREACHING SEX OFFENDER COURT ORDER
A REGISTERED Upper Eden sex offender has heard he could receive a prison sentence for multiple breaches of a court order.In August 2021, Brian Richardson, of Quarry Close, Kirkby Stephen, was ordered to sign the sex offender register.
This placed on him a legal obligation to keep police up to date with personal information — including names he was using on online platforms.
It was imposed in Carlisle after a court heard Richardson, now aged 61, had served time in an American jail for child sex offences.
These offences dated back to 2019 and were prosecuted in the state of Texas.
One involved meeting a child following sexual grooming, and Richardson was also convicted of possessing illegal images of youngsters.
Richardson was back at Carlisle Magistrates’ Court this morning when he admitted six new offences.
All involved him breaching the sex offender notification requirements on dates between August 22, 2021, and June 27, 2024.
The court heard he did do by failing to notify police, within three days, of two bank account and associated bank cards; and, in relation to the remaining four charges, failing to notify an email address and three online usernames.
Richardson’s case was adjourned for the preparation of probation service pre-sentence report.
He is due to be punished on September 16 and was told a range of sentencing options, including a term of custody, would be considered on that date.
In the meantime he has been granted bail.
AUGUST 2021 Brian Richardson, 57, appeared at Carlisle's Rickergate Magistrates' Court today but declined to oppose the application to include his name on the Register after confirming that he was jailed in Texas three years ago for child sex offences.
Prosecutor Matthew Hopkins, making the application for the Crown Prosecution Service, said both offences dated from 2019 and were prosecuted in Texas.
Both offences involved activities which would be considered child sex offences in the UK and this justified the application, said the barrister.
The first offence involved Richardson arranging to meet a child following sexual grooming in order to engage in "deviant" sexual intercourse.
The defendant admitted that offence.
He was also convicted of possessing indecent photos of children.
Mr Hopkins said that the images involved would also be classified as illegal in this country.
"He was sentenced to five years," said the barrister.
Addressing District Judge John Temperley, Richardson, of Quarry Close, Kirkby Stephen, said that he would not oppose the application because he conceded he did serve the jail term for the offences outlined to the court.
But did want to say "one thing in his defence." He claimed the indecent images he admitted having - despite the charge including the word genitals - would not be considered illegal in the UK.
Judge Temperley said he was satisfied that all the legal conditions were met to necessitate him signing on to the Sex Offenders' Register, even if the indecent images offence was not part of the application.
Richardson has to comply within three days, giving the police his name and address, his criminal background, and informing his local police force whenever that changes.
Because of the length of the jail term in Texas, the order would be indefinite, added the judge.
It is understood that Richardson was released half way through his five year term in Texas.
