Nicky Ward, a convicted rapist deemed a danger to the public, has been sentenced for breaching the terms of the sex offender register.

Ward, 42, had been staying at the probation-run accommodation, Holbeck House in Holbeck, but was kicked out due to his behavior in January 2022. He is required to sign the sex offender register for life and inform police of any address changes within three days.

However, Ward failed to comply with these requirements and remained at large after police attempts to contact him proved unsuccessful.

Leeds Crown Court heard that Ward had contacted another resident at Holbeck House in April 2022 to inquire about borrowing money. The resident's phone number was passed to police, but Ward refused to respond or answer his phone.

He was eventually arrested on August 30, 2023, and admitted to breaching the terms of the sex offender register. He claimed he was living in Sheffield at the time.

In mitigation, Lily Wildman stated that Ward had "done a lot of good work" with probation during his prison terms and afterwards, and that his "engagement has been excellent."

Judge Simon Phillips KC sentenced Ward to six months in jail, suspended for 18 months, with 20 rehabilitation days.

Ward's criminal history includes a six-year sentence for rape in 2001. In October 2005, after serving half of his sentence, he was jailed indefinitely for attempting to rob an off-licence in Skegness at knifepoint. He was also sentenced to 16 weeks in prison in 2017 for absconding from an open prison in Lincolnshire.