A SEX offender has been jailed for ten months after failing to register, for the eighth time.

Michael Fortune, now 35, was jailed for three years, with an order he be subject to a three-year extended licence period, in 2004, for indecently assaulting a police woman.

Durham Crown Court heard the constable and a female colleague were answering a complaint of a man exposing himself at an empty factory in Consett, when the incident took place while trying to arrest Fortune, in October 2003.

Fortune, formerly of Wagtail Terrace, Craghead, near Stanley, admitted indecent assault and, apart from the custodial sentence, was ordered to sign the Sex Offenders’ Register, for life.

Monday's (July 20) court hearing heard that since his release having served his three-year sentence, Fortune has frequently flouted the registration requirements, as a sex offender.

The latest breach took place last month after his release from an eight-week sentence for the previous failure to comply with the order, imposed in May.

Shaun Dryden, prosecuting, said Fortune was released on June 10 and registered that day at Consett Police Station.

As he was homeless, to meet the notification requirements, Fortune was required to sign at Consett Police Station each week, but was arrested on June 19, having failed to attend on June 17.

Appearing at court, via video link from Holme House Prison, Stockton, Fortune admitted failing to comply with the notification requirements.

Representing himself, Fortune said he felt the police were “harassing” him, just because the woman he assaulted, in the original incident, was an officer.

Jailing him, Judge Simon Hickey said Fortune must comply with court orders or risk facing longer prison terms, the more he repeatedly breached them.