ACCRINGTON SEX OFFENDER FAILS TO SIGN REGISTER AFTER POLICE MIX-UP

A convicted sex offender failed to register with police on a weekly basis as required after a 'mix-up' with police.Blackburn Magistrates' Court heard Matthew Weller had spoken to two police officers who were supervising him, and believed he would not have to sign on at the police station as normal after that.Weller, 43, of no fixed address, pleaded guilty to failing to comply with notification requirements of the sex offenders' register.He was fined £80 and ordered to pay a £32 victim surcharge.Andrew Hey, prosecuting, said that because he was homeless, Weller was required to sign in with police every week.He signed in on March 26 but then failed to sign in on April 2.He has breached these requirements three times, with the last two resulting in prison sentences in the past.Jonathan Taylor, in mitigation, mentioned during the hearing that during the week he failed to sign in, Weller had been introduced to two police officers who said they would be supervising him in future.“He spent some time with them in the police vehicle and thought he would not have to sign in as a result,” said Mr Taylor.“He now realises that he has to go into the police station and sign the piece of paper. It was not a deliberate attempt to evade detection.”He added that Weller was in regular contact with drug and probation services, which were trying to secure him a residential detox placement to help him overcome his drug addiction.