Man on sex offenders' register to be sentenced after breaching order

A registered former sex offender is due to be sentenced after he breached an order under the Sexual Offences Act by failing to notify authorities he was living with a child.
Chesterfield magistrates' court.Chesterfield magistrates' court.
Chesterfield magistrates' court.

Chesterfield magistrates’ court heard on May 17 how Gary Bennett, 53, formerly of Belmont Drive, Staveley, had breached the order between September, 2013, and May, this year.

Sarah Haslam, prosecuting, said the defendant is a relevant person on the sex offenders’ register under the Sexual Offences Act after he had committed an indecent assault by touching a woman’s breasts and legs.

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Ms Haslam added: “He committed an indecent assault. He had knocked on a door and was invited in and he assaulted the complainant, who was aged in her 40s, by touching her breasts and her legs as she struggled with him.

“Because of that conviction he was registered under the Sexual Offences Act.”

The court heard Bennett had notified police of his intention to move to Staveley after he had previously lived in South Yorkshire but when he was repeatedly asked who he was residing with he made no mention of a child.

Defence solicitor Steve Brint confirmed Bennett had been released from custody in 2005 and there have been no further offences and after he has been under the Sexual Offences Act for 15 years he can apply to be removed from the register.

Magistrates committed the case to Derby Crown Court for a further hearing on June 7.

Bennett was released on conditional bail.