BRIERFIELD SEX OFFENDER FAILED TO NOTIFY POLICE FOR 3 MONTHS

A convicted sex offender failed to comply with registration requirements imposed because of his previous offending.Blackburn Magistrates' Court heard Hassan Ali was homeless and, as a result, should have signed on at the police station every seven days.He was out of contact for nearly three months, and police investigations revealed he had also obtained a new e-mail address, which he hadn't registered with them.Ali, 32, of no fixed address, but from the Brierfield area, pleaded guilty to two charges of failing to comply with sex offender register notification requirements.He was remanded in custody until May 21 for the preparation of a pre-sentence report.Rachel Evans, prosecuting, said Ali was required to report to the police station every seven days as long as he was homeless, but was out of contact between February 4 and April 25. "During that time he was spoken to by the police and made aware that he needed to report," said Miss Evans. "He said he was in the process of obtaining accommodation and would be in touch with the police." When officers began to investigate his absence, they contacted the Department of Work and Pensions and realised he was using an email address which hadn't been registered with them. "These offences are aggravated by the fact he has five previous convictions for failing to comply with notification requirements," said Miss Evans. Vaqas Latif, mitigating, said the offence which led to his client being placed on the sex offender register went back to 2015, and the only offences since then had been breaches. "His family no longer want to have anything to do with him," said Mr Latif. "He has been trying hard to get an address which would make things easier for him."