Man who breached Sexual Offences Prevention Order by attending church services in Ballymena area is sentenced
A 63-year-old convicted sex offender who breached a Sexual Offences Prevention Order by attending church services in the Ballymena area has been sentenced.
Stanley Richmond (63) , of Galgorm Road in Ballymena, breached a Sexual Offences Prevention Order (SOPO) by attending Ballymena Free Presbyterian Church on November 16, December 7 and December 14 last year.
He also attended, according to the charge sheet, a "Christmas event" in "the grounds" of Elim Pentecostal Church in Ballymena on December 6. He appeared at Ballymena Magistrates Court on Thursday via video link from prison.
A police officer had told an earlier hearing the defendant was made the subject of a SOPO in 2023. At court in 2023 Richmond had pleaded guilty to inciting a child to engage in sexual activity and sexual communication with a child.
A 14-year-old girl was on her way to the toilet during a church service when the defendant made inappropriate comments to her. The girl returned to her family and the defendant was pointed out.
As part of the SOPO the defendant was "prohibited from attending a place of worship unless he had a signed contract of behaviour agreed between himself and the church leaders approved by Social Services and/or his designated risk manager".
The defendant told police he fully admitted breaching the Order saying he "only wanted to go to church".
A defence solicitor told a previous court they had been "technical breaches" by being at churches but there were "no follow-on offences".
The solicitor had said the defendant "spends his life walking the streets of Ballymena" and is "well known throughout the locality".
"He tries to get some solace in attending church services," said the solicitor. The solicitor said the defendant apologised, had "mental health issues" and has a social worker.
The defendant had been on remand in custody since December - the equivalent of a four months prison sentence.
At Thursday's Court, District Judge Nigel Broderick said the defendant had already spent time behind bars and said society would "probably benefit" if he is now put on Probation to deal with his "complex" issues.
He was put on Probation for two years with conditions including having no contact with children and he "must not engage with any church group or religious activity without the prior approval" of his "supervising officer".