Andrew Brandon Kirtley preferred prison to signing the sex offenders’ register

Andrew Brandon Kirtley told a court he did not belong on a register for rapists and paedophiles after he was found guilty of indecent exposure.

He told Newton Aycliffe Magistrates’ Court he received better health care in prison, where he had “no worries”.

The 30-year-old of Thomas Court, Darlington, admitted failing to notify police of his address after he was released from prison only weeks ago.

He said: “I do not think it is justified that I got put on this register. Rapists and paedos do not get the time I got just for urinating in public and someone (seeing) me.”

David Maddison, prosecuting, said Kirtley was found guilty of indecent exposure, on February 26.

Kirtley, also known as Lawson, was sentenced to 16 weeks in prison and ordered to sign the register for seven years after his release.

Mr Maddison said officers visited Holme House Prison, in Stockton, and advised him of the requirement, but Kirtley later told officers he could remember neither the visit nor the trial.

Ben Pegman, in mitigation, described Kirtley as a complicated individual, but said there were no aggravating features and that no distress had been caused to the victim.

Mr Pegman said: “He wishes to receive a custodial sentence for as long a period as you feel appropriate. He is a gentleman who does not feel he can cope on the outside and he feels that custody is doing him some good.”

Kirtley told the bench he had suffered a stroke and had bowel cancer, but felt he had not received any help from the courts.

He said: “I have got just about every conviction imaginable, not just that, but I have got an asbo not to attempt to kill myself, so it is all right if I kill myself, it is just against the law if I fail.

“This whole country would be better off without asbos.”

Sentencing Kirtley to six weeks in prison, chairman of the bench Steven Butterworth told him: “The sentence is not at your request – it is what the law requires.”