A sex offender who was found guilty of failing to provide gardaí with his new address has been sentenced to two years in prison.
Ian Bissett (28) of York House, Longford Street Little, Dublin 2, pleaded not guilty to failing to notify gardaí of his change of address within seven days on dates between July 13th and August 19th, 2011. He was found guilty of the offence last month following a trial.
On June 21st, 2011, Bissett was released from prison after serving five years in 2006 for aggravated sexual assault and threatening to kill a man in September 2005.
At Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, Sergeant Francis Byrne told Geraldine Small, prosecuting, that in 2011 Bissett was informed of his legal requirements under the Sex Offenders Act to provide gardaí of his current address and of any change in his address.
"He complied with the order that day and gave an address at the Salvation Army Hostel in Dublin 2," said Sgt Byrne.
Sgt Byrne said on September 2nd, 2011, the manager of the hotel contacted gardaí to say Bissett had failed to return to the hostel between July 21st and August 24th. On August 24th, Bissett was barred from staying there, he said.
In October 2011, Bissett was arrested and told gardaí the reason for the breach of the requirements was because “I suppose I had a warrant and didn’t want to get lifted on it”.
Sgt Byrne said Bissett told gardaí he had moved to Limerick and failed to inform gardaí of his new address because he "was homeless and fed up".
Sgt Byrne said Bissett has 22 previous convictions including endangerment, robbery, assault causing harm and damaging property as well as the conviction for aggravated sexual assault and threat to kill.
Judge Martin Nolan sentenced Bissett to two years in prison to run concurrently to another sentence he is serving.