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Portadown man who fixed some fences was in breach of sexual risk order

Craigavon Courthouse

A Portadown man who breached a Risk of Sexual Harm order will be re-sentenced next month.

Court heard the 63-year-old failed to notify his Designated Risk Manager before engaging in work building fences.

Noel Greer, of Armagh Road, pleaded guilty to the offence at Craigavon Magistrates’ on Friday.

It was heard that on June 7 a Health Trust forensic officer, overheard the defendant have a conversation in which he declared he had taken on work fixing fences.

Defence solicitor Joseph McDonald stated this had been “a one-off matter”, informing the court that Greer had “severe learning difficulties and a personality disorder”.

He added that the breach was accepted, and it was understood if the defendant had asked about the work, it more than likely would have been approved.

Mr McDonald said: “Organisation has already begun to get a speech and language specialist to go through the order with Mr Greer”.

Deputy District Judge Chris Holmes stated: “There is no such thing as a not serious breach in a sexual harm order.”

Court heard the order was made in 2008, which prompted the judge to say: “That’s 10 going on 11 years, you are going to explain the order to him now, I think it’s a bit late”.

Mr McDonald explained that give the defendant’s difficulties he often forgot or mixed up the conditions of the order.

A pre-sentence report was ordered to the case with it due to return on December 21 for sentencing.

Judge Holmes warned Greer: “If you don’t follow the rules you will be going into custody, I hope you understand that”.

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