Rapist is back behind bars after he 'misled' officers
A rapist has been put back behind bars after failing to tell the authorities where he was living for a year.
Darryn Seaman is on the sex offenders' register for life after being convicted of rape and jailed for five years in 2007, which means the police must be kept constantly notified of where he is living.
But Newcastle Crown Court heard when the 52-year-old left his matrimonial home in Washington last May after his relationship broke down, he said nothing about the move.
And in September last year and April this year, he provided police with the former matrimonial address as being his current home because he thought it would be "easier".
Prosecutor Michael Bunch told the court: "Effectively, from May 10 last year when he left, to May 13 this year, when he registered his new address, the police were ignorant of the fact that he had moved and was no longer residing at the address that they held for him.
"He misled them as to the location which he was living."
Seaman, of no fixed address, admitted breach of notification requirements.
The court heard he has four previous convictions for failure to comply.
Jennifer Coxon, defending, told the court: "He does struggle with the aspect of being found guilty of an offence he maintains he wasn't guilty of, then having a lifelong order to adhere to."
Miss Coxon said Seaman poses a low risk and none of the breaches have been committed to facilitate further offences.
She added: "He didn't realise he could notify the police he was of no fixed address. That is an error on his part.
"He was in fact keeping in touch with the police, he had not disappeared from the radar."
Mr Recorder Carl Gumsley sentenced Seaman to 24 weeks behind bars and told him: "Those requirements are there for a purpose and for the protection of the public.
"Police want to know where you are, that is what they are entitled to know under the law, whether you like it or not."
The judge added: "There is no indication of you seeking to manipulate the situation in order to create an opportunity to re-offend sexually."