David Spencer, a convicted sex offender, has been incarcerated for residing at the house of a young mother without disclosing his prior offences.
David Spencer was mandated to register as a sex offender for life after being sentenced to seven years in prison for sexual offences against minors at Newcastle Crown Court in February 2013.
Upon his release from detention, the 36-year-old was mandated to inform the police of his residence, disclose his social media accounts, and register his banking information.
Annelise Haugstad, the prosecutor, stated: “In August 2022, he resided in supported housing and was reported missing on several occasions.”
“The police were made aware David Spencer was missing for several nights and it was discovered that he was staying at the home address of an 18-year-old and her young son.
“David Spencer failed to register that address or that he had stayed there seven nights in a row. The woman had not been made aware of his previous offences.”
The court heard how David Spencer also used his step-father’s name on a snapchat account, again without notifying the authorities.
Miss Haugstad said the defendant was also in possession of two unregistered mobile phones and a bank card.
In a victim impact statement, the woman said she was shocked to learn about his previous convictions after she was introduced to him by a friend from a mother and toddlers’ group.
She added: “I didn’t know anything about his past but if I had, I wouldn’t have had anything to do with him.”
David Spencer, formerly of Fencehouses, near Houghton-le-Spring, but whose most recent address was given as care/of a charity-run men’s hostel, in Plawsworth, near Chester-le-Street, admitted eight charges of failing to comply with the terms of his notification requirements between July 18 and October 12 last year.
Victoria Lamballe, mitigating, said her client had made good use of his time on remand to take part in a number of courses.
Judge Paul Watson KC, the Recorder of Middlesbrough, sentenced David Spencer to 12 months in custody but told him he would be soon released as he had spent seven months on remand and get back into the community.
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