Sex offender locked up after staying overnight with mum-of-three girlfriend.

Sex offender Nathan Totton has been sentenced to six months in jail for breaching his court orders by staying overnight with his girlfriend, a mother of three.

Totton, 26, is required to be on the Sex Offenders' Register and is subject to a Sexual Harm Prevention Order, which prohibits him from having unsupervised contact with children under 16. He was previously jailed for three years in 2017 for inciting a child to engage in sexual activity and sexual activity with a child.

Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court heard that Totton met his girlfriend on a dating website last summer and subsequently breached his court orders by:

• Failing to notify the police that he was staying for more than 12 hours where children were residing.
• Staying overnight at his partner's home and coming into contact with her children.
• Failing to complete his annual registration on time.

Prosecutor Peter McCartney stated that Totton stayed overnight at his girlfriend's house at least seven times within a month of their meeting and actively attempted to conceal his actions.

Totton explained to police that he did not comply with the notification requirements because he did not want to undergo a risk assessment or jeopardize his relationship. He remarked, "I have done my sentence. Why should I be punished for the rest of my life?"

Totton, from William Street, Biddulph, pleaded guilty to three offenses of failing to comply with the notification requirements of the Sex Offenders' Register.

Robert Holt, mitigating for Totton, argued that there was no indication of any significant risk posed to the children. He emphasized Totton's desire to move on with his life, noting his regret for his time in custody and his intention to avoid dating websites.

In addition to the jail sentence, Totton was also issued a five-year restraining order barring him from contacting the woman. Judge David Fletcher stated that Totton's actions were driven by a feeling of being controlled by the court orders imposed upon him.

Judge Fletcher warned Totton that any future breaches of the notification requirements would result in a more severe sentence.