County Durham sex offender back behind bars for court breach

David Spencer was made subject of sex offender registration for life when he was jailed at Newcastle Crown Court for seven years for sexual offences with girls, in February 2013.

Following his release from custody, the 36-year-old was required to notify police where he was living, what social media accounts he was using, and register his banking details.

Teesside Crown Court heard how concerns were raised after he failed to return to his accommodation for several nights and he was eventually located stating at the 18-year-old’s home.

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Annelise Haugstad, prosecuting, said: “In August 2022 he was living in supported housing and on a number of occasions he was reported as missing.

“The police were made aware he was missing for several nights and it was discovered that he was staying at the home address of an 18-year-old and her young son.

“He failed to register that address or that he had stayed there seven nights in a row. The woman had not been made aware of his previous offences.”

David Spencer (Image: Durham Constabulary)

The court heard how Spencer also used his step-father’s name on a snapchat account, again without notifying the authorities.

Miss Haugstad said the defendant was also in possession of two unregistered mobile phones and a bank card.

In a victim impact statement, the woman said she was shocked to learn about his previous convictions after she was introduced to him by a friend from a mother and toddlers’ group.

She added: “I didn’t know anything about his past but if I had, I wouldn’t have had anything to do with him.”

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Spencer, formerly of Fencehouses, near Houghton-le-Spring, but whose most recent address was given as care/of a charity-run men’s hostel, in Plawsworth, near Chester-le-Street, admitted eight charges of failing to comply with the terms of his notification requirements between July 18 and October 12 last year.

Victoria Lamballe, mitigating, said her client had made good use of his time on remand to take part in a number of courses.

Judge Paul Watson KC, the Recorder of Middlesbrough, sentenced Spencer to 12 months in custody but told him he would be soon released as he had spent seven months on remand.