Former Mayor Convicted of Failing to Notify Police of Name Change

Strategic Insights -

A former mayor of St Helens, who was previously convicted of sexual offenses, has been sentenced in court for failing to notify police of a name change. John Beirne, 64, was given a 12-month community order, including 135 hours of unpaid work, for breaching the terms of the Sex Offenders' Register. Beirne had changed his name to John 'Blondel' while subject to conditions of the sex offenders' register, but failed to notify police, leading to a further breach of notification requirements.

Key Takeaways:

  • John Beirne, a former mayor of St Helens, was convicted of failing to notify police of a name change, breaching the terms of the Sex Offenders' Register.
  • Beirne had previously been convicted of historic sexual offenses and had served a 16-month prison sentence, suspended for two years.
  • The former councillor changed his name to John 'Blondel' while on the sex offenders' register, but failed to notify police.
  • Beirne received 384 votes in the 2019 local election for Wigan Borough Council under the name John Blondel.
  • He was jailed for 16 months for the breach in 2020, but had his sentence reduced to 12 months on appeal.
  • Beirne pleaded guilty to a further failure to comply with notification requirements in 2024 and was sentenced to a 12-month community order.
  • The sentence includes 135 hours of unpaid work, reduced from 150 hours for his guilty plea.

Statistics:

  • 384 votes received by John Blondel (Beirne) in the 2019 local election for Wigan Borough Council.
  • 16 months prison sentence originally given to Beirne for breach of the Sex Offenders' Register in 2020.
  • 12 months serveable prison sentence after appeal in 2020.
  • 135 hours of unpaid work as part of Beirne's community order.
  • 10 days of rehabilitation activity ordered by the court.
  • £564 total costs and surcharge paid by Beirne as part of his sentence.

Sources:

  • News article from a local newspaper, date unknown.
  • [Reference to the court hearing where Beirne was sentenced, Wigan and Leigh Magistrates' Court, date March 8, 2023, is not mentioned, so referenced solely as a news article.]