A convicted sex offender has failed to report inline with his child protection register requirements.
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Aaron Bond, of Ulladulla, who has been on the register since May 2016, was jailed for 12 months, with a non-parole period of nine months, for the sexual assault of a 15-year-old.
Following his release last year, Bond was required to meet reporting requirements, which included telling police the name, address and contact number of anyone he contacted, via oral or written communication, under the age of 18.
On May 29, Bond attended Ulladulla Police Station for a review and was asked about any children he had contacted.
Bond disclosed information about a female who will not be 18 until October 2017.
“[He] stated she was a close confidante who he spoke with regularly,” police facts stated.
“He said there was no sexual relationship. He admitted the female had slept at his house on a couple of occasions and they frequently chilled.”
The 25-year-old told police he thought he only had to tell them of people he contacted under 16. Under the Child Protection Act 2000, a child is defined as a person under 18 years old.
Bond told police telling them about his underage friend “slipped his mind”.
Defence lawyer Peter Ryan said his client was “honest with police” when being interviewed about the offence.
“He is trying to turn his life around,” Mr Ryan said.
“He has found full-time work and formed a relationship. He is now in stable accommodation.
“He is aware of the serious consequences for failing to report.”
Magistrate Gabriel Fleming said, “26 per cent of people convicted of this offence in local courts go to full-time jail”.
Mr Ryan quipped back, “perhaps he is one of the two thirds that don’t go to jail”.
Magistrate Fleming had words of warning for Bond.
“If being on the register and a bond isn’t sufficient to remind him of his obligations, I’m not sure what it,” she said.
“You are on that register because you committed a sexual offence and you need to comply with the register. I find it hard to believe it slipped your mind. If it slips your mind again, you will go to jail.”
Bond was fined $500 and put on a 12-month corrections supervision order.