Ballymena sex offender breached order by going to church
A 63-year-old convicted sex offender has pleaded guilty to breaching a Sexual Offences Prevention Order by attending church services in the Ballymena area.
Stanley Richmond, of Galgorm Road in Ballymena attended Ballymena Free Presbyterian Church on November 16, December 7 and December 14 last year.
He also attended 'the grounds' of Elim Pentecostal Church in Ballymena on December 6.
The defendant appeared at Ballymena Magistrates' Court on Thursday via video link from prison.
A defence solicitor said they had been "technical breaches" by being at churches but there were no follow-on offences.
The defendant was further remanded in custody and the case was adjourned to February 5 for a pre-sentence report.
A police officer had told an earlier hearing the defendant was made the subject of a SOPO in 2023.
As part of the SOPO the defendant was "prohibited from attending a place of worship unless he had a signed contract of behaviour agreed between himself and the church leaders approved by Social Services and/or his designated risk manager".
The defendant had previously been in court on Saturday December 13 in relation to breaching the SOPO by attending Elim Church without a signed contract of behaviour. He had been released on bail.
He then attended Ballymena Free Presbyterian Church on December 14. He had also been there on November 16 and December 7 in breach of the SOPO.
The defendant told police he fully admitted breaching the Order saying he only wanted to go to church.
The police officer told a December 16 court the PSNI were concerned that the defendant would continue to breach the Order and given the approach to Christmas it was "even more likely that children will be in attendance at church services".
The defence solicitor said the defendant "felt called" to go to church. He lives a "lonely existence" and had gone there for "company".
"He tries to get some solace in attending church services," said the solicitor.
At court in 2023 Richmond had pleaded guilty to inciting a child to engage in sexual activity and sexual communication with a child.
A 14-year-old girl was on her way to the toilet during a church service when the defendant made inappropriate comments to her. The girl returned to her family and the defendant was pointed out.