Sex offender allegedly breached Sexual Offences Prevention Order by attending a church in Ballymena

The 64-year-old is accused of four breaches by attending First Ballymena Presbyterian Church on October 4 and October 7 when, according to his charge sheet, he 'without reasonable excuse attended a place of worship which was being used for youth groups at the time, an act you were prohibited from performing under the said Order'.

Stanley Richmond , of Galgorm Road in Ballymena, was also not allowed to attend a place of worship without prior approval from his 'risk manager'.

The defendant was at Ballymena Magistrates Court on Thursday (November 5). He is on bail and the case was adjourned to December 3. No details regarding the charges were given to the court.

In a previous case at the same court in February this year the defendant had been sentenced for breaching a Sexual Offences Prevention Order by attending church services in the Ballymena area.

That court sitting was told he had attended 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.

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 original 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".

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Regarding last year's incidents, the defendant had 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".

The solicitor said the defendant "felt called" to go to church. He lives a "lonely existence" and had gone there for "company". "He tries to get some solace in attending church services," said the solicitor.

The solicitor said the defendant apologised. He said his client had "mental health issues" and has a social worker.

February's court was told the defendant had been on remand in custody since December - the equivalent of a four months prison sentence.

At the February Court, District Judge Nigel Broderick said the defendant had already spent time behind bars and said society would "probably benefit" if he was now put on Probation to deal with his "complex" issues.

In February the defendant 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" and disclosure of his conviction.