Convicted sex offender from County Derry fined after breaching SOPO

A convicted sex offender from County Derry has been fined for breaching a Sexual Offences Prevention Order (SOPO).

Josh McDaid, of Windsor Avenue in Coleraine, appeared before Limavady Magistrates’ Court earlier today (Wednesday) charged with committing the offence on May 27 2023.

The 24 year-old was further charged with failing to make an annual report of his personal information on the same date.

A third charge of failing to notify the PSNI of an address change was withdrawn.

The court heard that McDaid is a registered sex offender who is subject to notification requirements.

He was also subject to a SOPO between May 2019 and May 2024.

McDaid was due to complete an annual re-notification, which included his name, address and date of birth, on May 27 2023 however he failed to do so.

Police attempted to contact McDaid via telephone however they were unable to reach him.

They attended his home address where he was present at the time however McDaid advised officers that he had been residing at another address for a short period of time.

McDaid accepted that he was in breach of the SOPO but believed that all requirements of that order had lapsed as his licence period had expired.

A barrister for the defendant said that McDaid has not come to the attention of the court since the index offence.

He added that his client now knows that he should have contacted his solicitor when he moved address.

He added that McDaid, a joiner by trade, is currently grieving the recent tragic loss of his mother, and has not been working since.

District Judge Peter King fined McDaid £500 for the offences before warning: “That’s the first and last time I will post fines for these offences, the next time I will be looking at something more punitive to remind you of your obligations.”

McDaid was also ordered to pay an offender of £15.