Title: Paedophile Fails Police Checks, Receives Jail Sentence After Fleeing to York
A paedophile who tried to evade police checks and supervision by fleeing to York has been sentenced to jail. Christopher Wright, aged 46, had previously been convicted for sexually assaulting a child under 13 and attempted kidnap. Following his release, Wright was required to inform the police of his whereabouts, but he repeatedly failed to do so. His solicitor advocate, Peter Minnikin, stated that Wright had come to York on a whim.
Having no fixed address, Wright admitted to failing to comply with the requirements of the sex offenders’ register and received a seven-month jail sentence at York Crown Court. It was not the first instance of him avoiding police monitoring since his release from prison. Furthermore, he had failed to report to a probation hostel upon his release, prompting a public appeal in both England and Scotland to locate him.
Prosecutor Mollie Briggs informed the court that due to his homeless status, Wright had to contact the police every week to disclose his location. However, he last informed them that he was residing in Nottingham. For a whole month, his whereabouts were unknown until a police officer arrested him in York on a separate matter. Subsequently, at Fulford Road Police Station, he was identified as being wanted by Nottinghamshire Police due to his failure to keep in touch with them. The police were unaware of his location between September 17 and October 22.
Wright had previously been convicted four times for failing to comply with the sex offenders’ register since March 2022, with two convictions in December 2022 and one in May 2023. Mr. Minnikin highlighted that Wright made impulsive decisions while consuming alcohol heavily and had struggled with alcohol addiction since he was 18 years old. Additionally, Wright’s parents had passed away before he turned 17, leaving him without a support network.
Upon his release from prison, Wright initially moved to Glasgow, where he was informed by the local police about distressing information circulating online concerning him. Fearing the repercussions, he decided to relocate. Cut off from his family and lacking support, he ended up in Nottingham, living on the streets.
The arrest occurred while Wright was present in York city center. During his time in custody, he actively sought help for his alcohol problems.
In conclusion, Christopher Wright, a registered sex offender, found himself in further legal trouble for failing to comply with the requirements of the sex offenders’ register. His decision to flee and evade police checks resulted in a seven-month jail sentence. Wright’s lawyer cited impulsive behavior and his struggle with alcohol addiction, as well as his lack of a support network, as contributing factors to his actions. Moving forward, it is crucial for authorities to closely monitor and provide appropriate support systems for individuals with similar circumstances to prevent them from evading the law in the future.
