Brian Pay

Brian Pay, a 44-year-old registered sex offender, was jailed for failing to comply with his notification obligations under the Sex Offenders Register. Originally convicted in 2012 at Hamilton Sheriff Court in Scotland for lewd and libidinous behaviour, Pay was required to inform police of any change in address, overnight stays away from his registered home, or visits to properties where children were present.

In March 2024, a detective visited a property in London and discovered Pay residing there, despite his registered address being in Kent. Pay confessed to having lived at the London address for approximately three months. He was subsequently bailed but, while on bail, spent time at an address in Sunderland occupied by a family with children, again without notifying the authorities as mandated.

Pay, who had no fixed address at the time of sentencing, appeared at Newcastle Crown Court where he admitted to two charges of failing to comply with notification requirements. The court heard that Pay had a criminal record comprising 28 offences, including seven prior failures to adhere to notification rules. Judge Carolyn Scott imposed a custodial sentence of 28 months.

Defending, Kate Barnes highlighted Pay's traumatic childhood and ongoing mental health issues, noting that he had not committed any further offences during the periods of breach and felt unsupported by the probation service. The case underscores the strict monitoring placed on registered sex offenders to protect the public, particularly children, from potential risks.