A convicted sex offender returned to court in Bath this week after it emerged that an error had been made at his sentencing last month.
Russell Maidment, 32, had been given a 12-month suspended prison sentence by magistrates after admitting making a category C indecent photo / pseudo-photo of a child in February 2022 and six offences of sexual communication with a child in 2021 and 2022.
Under Section 82 of the Sexual Offences Act, anyone receiving a sentence of more than six months, whether suspended or not, must comply with reporting requirements (which enable police to monitor and manage sex offenders) for 10 years.
However, when Maidment was sentenced on 10th November, the reporting requirements term was set at five years.
Magistrates formally reopened the case on Monday 15th December, with the court’s legal adviser explaining to Maidment that no one had picked up on the error at the time of his sentencing.
The bench changed it to 10 years, with Maidment, of Lower Innox, near Frome, acknowledging he understood the reason.
