A Wollongong man listed on the NSW Child Protection Register has been sentenced to jail for taking too long to report his change of address to police.
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Under the terms of the register, Nathan Pratt was required to give police 14 days notice of an impending change of address or, in the case of an emergency or exceptional circumstances, within three days of the move.
However, Wollongong Local Court heard Pratt, who is on the register following his 2014 conviction for possessing child pornography, moved from an address in Keiraville to the Piccadilly Motor Inn on June 22 last year and did not report the move to police until June 28 – and then it was via telephone and not in person, as required under the law.
Police charged Pratt with failing to comply with his reporting obligations – his fourth such offence – however Pratt pleaded not guilty to the charge.
His lawyer told the court during a hearing that Pratt had been in need of emergency housing after effectively becoming homeless and had stayed at his sister’s house one night during the time period.
He claimed Pratt’s address at the Piccadilly did not become firm until June 26.
However, Magistrate Imad Abdul-Karim found that Pratt had changed his address on June 22 and did not have a reasonable excuse for failing to tell police until six days later.
“His obligation to report his residential address came into affect no later than June 23,” he said.
“He did finally report in accordance with the law but it was some days later.”
In considering Pratt’s punishment, Magistrate Abdul-Karim noted the 29-year-old had three previous convictions for the same offence.
His criminal record indicates two convictions in 2015 and one conviction in 2016, all of which resulted in jail sentences.
Magistrate Abdul-Karim sentenced Pratt to 15 months jail with a three-month non-parole period.
The Mercury understand Pratt is also facing another, unrelated charge for which he is currently refused bail.