A sex offender who moved address without telling the police was put behind bars for 12 months.

Richard Murray had been convicted in January last year of attempting to engage in sexual communication with a child after being trapped by a paedophile hunter group.

He received a six-month prison sentence suspended for 18 months and was ordered to sign on the Sex Offenders Register until January 2028.

Conditions include notifying the police of any change of his address within three days and on April 26 this year officers called unannounced at his home in Mossy Bank Road, Wallasey, which he had moved into a year earlier.

They called again on three more occasions and the last time on May 7 a woman answered the door and said she had bought the property two weeks earlier.

Investigations tracked Murray down to an address in Arbour Close, Northwich where he was arrested, Paul Blasbery, prosecuting, told Liverpool Crown Court.

Northwich Guardian: Richard Murray (Merseyside Police)Richard Murray (Merseyside Police)

Fifty-three-year-old Murray was found guilty after a magistrates’ court trial of failing to comply with the notification requirement and he admitted breaching the suspended sentence.

Mark Le Brocq, defending, said that Murray had been a self-employed plumber.

He added: “He now lives in fear, looking over his shoulder all the time.”

While at the Wallasey address his windows were smashed and since moving to Northwich he had had car damaged.

Mr Le Brocq claimed a neighbour embittered that Murray had moved in rather than her friend had spread the word he was a sex offender.

“He is now living in fear at that address and is frightened to go out in the day and will be looking to move again and that will be the pattern of his life.”

At Liverpool Crown Court on Friday, September 2, Judge David Potter activated the suspended sentence and imposed a further six months for failing to notify police of his address.

He said that notification of address was necessary for the police to monitor sex offenders and manage their risk.

“I am satisfied you would not have disclosed your new address if the police had not found you,” said Judge Potter.