Sex offender jailed for failing to comply with order

Ian Bailie, of no fixed abode, pleaded guilty to failing to notify police of a change of address and failing to notify police that he had a bank card.

The offences were committed between February and March, this year.

Derry Crown Court heard this is the sixth time the 27-year-old has failed to comply with the notification requirements of the Sex Offenders Register.

Bailie was convicted of sex offences in 2008 and was placed on the register for an indefinite period.

In February 2016, he went to Strand Road Police Station to inform police had just been released from prison and that he was homeless.

The officers made arrangements for Bailie to attend the station every Monday. He was also ordered to inform police if he had a bank card, passport or any other form of identification.

The court was told the defendant failed to attend the police station on March 28. He attended again the following Monday and was arrested.

During a search, police found a bank card in Bailie’s possession.

A defence barrister told the court his client was originally from the County Down area but had to leave after he was convicted of the sex offences.

He said Bailie was informed by police he was no longer safe in the area and as a consequence became ‘intentionally homeless’.

The barrister told the court this is the ‘primary reason why he continues to fall foul of the notification requirements’.

He revealed Bailie came to Derry and there is ‘some suggestion’ he was living in a car.

The barrister said the 27-year-old had an arangement with police that if they needed to check on him they could go to the local bus depot.

Jailing Bailie for nine months, Judge Gemma Loughran said the notification requirements ‘should be obeyed’.