WILLIAM RANDEL SCOTT CUNNINGHAM

A convicted paedophile was back behind bars this week.

William Cunningham, 50, was jailed for 10 months at Kilmarnock Sheriff Court on Monday after he pleaded guilty to breaking the terms of his sex offenders registration.

He failed to notify police of an alias he used – a variant on his own name.

Iain Gray, prosecuting, described the accused as “a level two medium risk sex offender”.

He had a High Court conviction for lewd and libidinous behaviour and a number of other sexual offences on his record.

The latest offence was discovered when police made an unannounced visit to Cunningham’s Kilmarnock home on May 24.

Inspecting the premises, they found a letter addressed to William Randel Scott Cunningham.

When Cunningham was interviewed by police, he “continually stated that he didn’t understand”.

James Irvine, defending, said that his client had used the name in the charge in his dealings with the council and benefits agencies since November 2010.

He had registered the name William Randel Cunningham with the police at a time when he was “getting a lot of hassle because of his record”.

He was “quite down about it all” and was prescribed anti-depressants by his doctor.

Mr Irvine said: “His position is he probably forgot to mention the name Scott to police when he registered with them.” He said that, at the time of his arrest, Cunningham had been “living quietly at a settled address”.

Sheriff David Hall told Cunningham: “You have a bad record in general and have previously offended for this type of behaviour.

In view of the nature of the charge and your record, there is no alternative to a custodial sentence.”