Leeds Crown Court: Sex offender said he was sleeping behind Wakefield Cathedral - despite living miles away

Owen Maughan, 43, has been convicted of a number of sex offences over 10 years between 2009-2019, including multiple offences for sexual touching. He is subject to an indefinite sexual offences prevention order and is required to notify police of his address.

Between June and August this year, he registered as homeless. Maughan told police on three occasions that he was sleeping rough behind Wakefield Cathedral.

But officers became suspicious when he turned up to the police station wearing different clothing each time, including a white jacket and cream flip flops on one occasion. The officers believed it was “not very in keeping with sleeping behind the cathedral”, Leeds Crown Court heard, and they began an investigation.

Police located the home of Maughan’s mother, which was a caravan parked around eight miles away from Wakefield Cathedral. When they knocked at the door, Maughan answered and it was apparent he had been sleeping inside and had just woken up, as he was bare-chested.

He admitted to police that he had been living in the caravan for around a month and knew of his notification requirements, but claimed he didn’t know he could use a caravan as his listed address.

Prosecuting, Harry Crowson said that the false information was a “determined breach to avoid detection” by the police. Maughan pleaded guilty to breaching his notification requirements at the earliest opportunity.

Mitigating, Joanne Shepherd said he didn’t regard the caravan as permanent accommodation. She added: “He is very sorry for putting himself in this position by failing to identify the permanence of the address. He is somebody who has somewhat of a chaotic lifestyle.”

Maughan has 30 convictions for 63 offences, which Recorder Richard Thyne said was a “dreadful record.”

Passing his sentencing remarks, Judge Thyne said: “Although no harm was caused, I have to assess that against your background of offending, there was some risk of harm here. I have a public duty to perform to make sure people who are subject to notification requirements comply with them.”

Maughan, of no fixed address, was sentenced to six months in prison.