Sex offender in dock for failing to notify police

A GATESHEAD sex offender has been in court for forgetting to tell police of his whereabouts.

Sofyan Alani, 26, failed to inform them he was still living in St Cuthbert’s Court, Bensham, as he must do once a year, a court heard.

It is part of the notification requirements of the sex offenders’ register, which he was put on for five years in November 2016.

Magistrates in South Tyneside heard it followed the takeaway worker’s conviction for two sexual assaults.

They were told Alani is not thought to have committed any harm by failing to keep his police station appointment.

Prosecutor Stewart Haywood said police attended Alani’s home on Thursday, July 22, because he had failed to confirm his address by Wednesday, May 19.

He added: “The defendant was sentenced, having pleaded guilty to two sexual assaults.

“He was made subject to a community order, which triggers the notification period of five years.

“Officers had cause to attend the defendant’s address because they were aware he had failed to sign the annual notification requirement. He was interviewed on August 10, and he confirmed he had failed to comply. He said that he had simply forgotten.”

Alani pleaded guilty to failing to comply with the notification requirements of the sex offenders’ register on May 19.

Paul Hanratty, defending, said: “It’s very simply the case that he forgot to go to the police station. He went to the police station the following day after being contacted by the police.

“It was a five-year order in 2016 and it may well be that it’s at an end now.

“This was an aberration on his behalf. He does apologise and says that it certainly wasn’t intentional.”

Magistrates said they accepted Alani’s place on the register was due to expire.

They fined him £160, with £85 court costs and a £34 victim surcharge.