A CONVICTED sex offender who flouted the terms of the Sex Offenders' Register he was placed on by failing to register a new bank card with the police, was spared imprisonment.

Billy Chilcott, of Green Street, Ryde, admitted failing to comply with the notification requirements of the Sex Offenders' Register, namely failing to register the new card within three days of its receipt, on June 13.

In doing so, Chilcott breached the terms of a six-month jail term, suspended for 18 months, with probation supervision, imposed by Isle of Wight magistrates on March 18 for possessing cocaine and a bladed article, namely a pruning saw and a patio knife, in public.

It is not the first time he has broken the terms of the Sex Offenders' Register. Chilcott had already been fined £40 for a breach.

Chilcott was convicted of a sexual assault on a woman in March 2019 and was subsequently placed on the Sex Offenders' Register for seven years.

When attending Newport Police Station for officers to conduct an annual review with Chilcott, they discovered changes had been made to his bank details from his newly-issued bank card. This put Chilcott in breach for not declaring it to the police, explained Ann Smout, prosecuting, at the Isle of Wight Magistrates' Court on Tuesday.

The reason why the police need up-to-date bank details, is to keep tabs on sex offenders' purchase activity, so there are no illegal purchases of indecent images, said Mrs Smout.

For Chilcott, Oscar Vincent said there was no suggestion his client was purchasing indecent images with his new bank card or that he was "trying to evade his responsibilities".

When Chilcott lost his bank card, he requested a replacement from his bank and did not look at changes to his new card, Mr Vincent added.

"He was surprised and upset by the breach. It was a genuine mistake - an oversight," Mr Vincent told the bench.

Jobless Chilcott was given the benefit of the doubt by magistrates, who allowed the suspended sentence order to continue, but added five rehabilitation days on, with an order to pay a £50 fine and a £34 surcharge.