THOMAS CLOUGH SENTENCED IN BLACKPOOL FOR SEX OFFENDER NOTIFICATION BREACHES

Thomas Clough, a man with a troubling history, has been handed a 14-month prison sentence after being found guilty of violating his sex offender notification obligations. The case was brought before Preston Crown Court, where Clough appeared via a video link on Friday, February 21. The court proceedings revealed that Clough, aged 38, had previously been convicted in March 2013 of engaging in sexual activity with a female under the age of 16, resulting in a three-year custodial sentence.

In his latest breach, Clough was already serving an eight-month suspended sentence for failing to adhere to the mandatory notification rules. According to court records, he claimed to have become homeless on October 23 of the previous year, which required him to inform the police weekly of his current whereabouts. Despite these obligations, law enforcement officials lost contact with Clough in December 2024, despite their persistent efforts to locate him. These efforts included issuing public appeals for information, but to no avail.

It was only on January 9, 2025, that authorities discovered Clough residing at the Farnborough Hotel on Bairstow Street in Blackpool. The court was informed that Clough had failed to notify the police of his change in residence, a breach of his legal duties. As a consequence of this failure, the court sentenced him to an additional 14 months in prison. Furthermore, Clough remains subject to ongoing sex offender notification requirements, which are designed to monitor and manage individuals with his history to protect the community from potential harm.