Kenneth Parry

In a dramatic turn of events at Blackburn Magistrates' Court, Kenneth Parry, a 38-year-old man of no fixed address, faced charges related to breaching his sex offender registration requirements. Parry had previously been subject to a suspended sentence from the Crown Court, and his recent actions triggered its activation.

Prosecutor Zulekha Bhuta outlined the breaches during the hearing. Parry was required to notify police of any changes to his address or confirm his homeless status within three days. He missed the reporting deadline in December and was three days late in January after being forced to leave homeless accommodation at Shadsworth. On 5 January, Parry attended the police station to register but became involved in an argument with a friend, leading officers to instruct him to return the next day. This resulted in another technical breach.

Defence solicitor Damien Pickup argued that the breaches were minor and that Parry had been cooperative overall. 'This is not someone who is disregarding his responsibilities,' Pickup stated, emphasising Parry's engagement with the probation service and his attendance at all appointments. He highlighted Parry's unstable housing situation as a contributing factor to the delays.

The magistrates initially activated the suspended sentence, imprisoning Parry for 39 weeks. However, just 10 minutes later, Parry was brought back from the cells following a query from Pickup. The court clerk apologised, explaining that as the breaches constituted a new offence, the magistrates lacked the authority to handle the breach of a Crown Court suspended sentence. Parry was committed on bail to Preston Crown Court for sentencing and walked free from the court.

The case was reported by Lancashire Telegraph, with coverage by Magistrates Court Reporter Andrew Bellard. It underscores the complexities of managing sex offender notifications, particularly for individuals experiencing homelessness in the Blackburn area.