HALIFAX SEX OFFENDER GETS SUSPENDED SENTENCE FOR BREACHING COURT ORDERS
A Halifax man with a history of sexual offenses was sentenced after he concealed his criminal record from his new partner.The woman, who is a mother, had initially presented himself as Gareth Roberts to the police.
Bradford Crown Court was told that their relationship had begun about three months prior to Robertshaw’s arrest in February this year.
Prosecutor Verity Barnes informed the court that 30-year-old Robertshaw, living on Sandhall Drive in Halifax, was subject to a Sexual Harm Prevention Order and sex offender notification requirements due to convictions in 2015 and 2021.
However, he broke these conditions by spending the night at his girlfriend’s home and not revealing his previous convictions.
His criminal history includes offenses of sexual assault and grooming an underage girl.
These violations only became apparent after police visited his residence and learned he had been staying at his girlfriend’s for two weeks.
The court emphasized that Robertshaw was required under his orders to notify police if he stayed at any address longer than seven days, but he did not comply.
The woman was unaware of his past criminal activity or legal restrictions.
During police interviews, Robertshaw accepted that he had breached the conditions, suggesting that his girlfriend had ‘misheard’ his name.
His defence lawyer, Claire Walsh, admitted that the breaches were intentional but added that her client was genuinely remorseful for his failure to disclose his background and was afraid of the consequences.
Since his arrest, Robertshaw has been held in custody for approximately ten weeks.
He was sentenced to 12 months in prison, suspended for two years, and also ordered to undertake 200 hours of community work along with 20 days of rehabilitation programs.
He remains under the obligations of the sex offender register and the terms of the Sexual Harm Prevention Order until 2031.
