A REGISTERED sex offender that stayed in the same house as a person under the age of 18 has been spared prison.

Lewis Rhys Williams, 25, was handed a six month suspended prison sentence for breaching a sexual offender’s prevention order after pleading guilty to the offence at Cardiff Crown Court on Friday morning, October 24.

The court heard that public protection officers visited the house on September 16 and discovered that Williams was staying with someone under the age of 18.

Williams, from the Barry area, was fully compliant with the officers and told them that the person had been staying in the house for around three weeks since August.

Barrister Ruth Smith, in mitigation, said there was nothing “sinister” about the breach and, as he had been subject to the 10-year prevention order since 2008, this was the first time he had breached it.

She added: “This is a case where there is a breach, but it is perhaps of the kind that is distinctly different to the sort of breach that has been carried out by a defendant wanting to get close to a child.”

She added that he had pleaded guilty at the earliest opportunity, and described him as a young man that was hard working and trying to address other areas of his life.

Recorder Elwen Evans QC said she understood there was not a “sinister motivation” behind the breach, but said it was appropriate to punish the breach whilst also addressing the issues identified.

She sentenced him to six months imprisonment, suspended for 12 months, and a 12 month supervision requirement.

She warned him that any further breaches would result in imprisonment.