A registered sex offender who was living on the streets has been jailed after failing to inform the authorities three times of changes to his address.

Frank Doherty, formerly of Norfolk Grove in Church and Haslingden, was arrested by officers in July this year – only two months after being released from prison for a similar offence.

Burnley Crown Court heard how Doherty had served 24 weeks in prison and was released on April 6, however he failed to inform the authorities where he was living up until June 1, the court heard.

Doherty also failed to disclose where he was living between June 2 and 6 and from July 9 to 18 this year.

The 60-year-old was placed for life on the register following a sexual assault conviction in 2005 and a rape in the late 1980s.

David Clarke, prosecuting, told the court: “He has continuously not been operating with the procedure.

“They had to spend considerable police hours finding him and putting him back before the courts.

“The police received information from a source on July 9 that he was not residing where he should be.

“On July 18 they said the issue was still taking place and the defendant was again arrested. He simply refused to speak to police and looked at the floor and didn’t cooperate in any shape or form.”

Huw Edwards, defending, said his ‘abject failure’ to comply with the notification requirements meant there was ‘no other option than immediate custody’.

He told the court: “After the 24 weeks sentence he had no fixed abode. He was living as a homeless man.

“He put an address down which is his son’s but he has a fairly difficult relationship with him.

“On July 9 he was ejected from his son’s house and he again became homeless.”

Doherty pleaded guilty to three counts failing to comply with notification requirements under the Sexual Offences Act.

He was jailed for a total of 14 months

Sentencing, Judge Beverly Lunt said: “You have to start taking this seriously. It’s a very necessary requirement which you are just flouting and it’s not acceptable at all.

“They need to know where you are.

“The only option is longer sentences so everyone knows where you are.”