Ricky Bennett

A registered sex offender from Whitehaven, Ricky Bennett, has appeared in court accused of breaching notification requirements by not informing police of his new address. Bennett, aged 36, admitted the offence at Workington Magistrates' Court on Monday, potentially facing imprisonment due to a previous similar conviction.

Prosecutor Peter Kelly outlined that Bennett had previously received a term of imprisonment in Australia for what appeared to be a serious sexual assault, leading to him being subject to notification requirements under the Sex Offenders’ Register in the UK. These stipulate that he must inform police of any address change within three days. In June 2024, Bennett moved to supported accommodation at Peter Street in Whitehaven, run by the 'Move On' project, which assists vulnerable women. However, he failed to notify authorities, only coming to light after police conducted an unannounced visit to his previous address.

A statement from a 'Move On' project staff member revealed that Bennett had been a service user since June but the full details of his conviction were not initially disclosed. The staff member noted that had police been informed, a risk assessment could have been conducted, potentially altering decisions about his placement in accommodation supporting vulnerable females. During a police interview, Bennett admitted to the non-compliance.

In court, Bennett chose not to seek legal representation despite the risk of custody, citing his struggles with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) from his time in the army and as a frontline paramedic on two tours in Afghanistan. He explained, 'It wasn’t on my mind to go to the police and tell them. Now I realise, I should have told them. My head is not in the right place at the minute. I moved out of my mam’s house and moved to Peter Street.' This is not Bennett's first breach; he was convicted of non-compliance in October 2024.

Magistrates adjourned the case for a pre-sentence report from the Probation Service. Bennett, of Peter Street, Whitehaven, is scheduled to be sentenced on 24 November 2024. The case highlights the importance of adherence to sex offender notification requirements to manage public safety risks.