December 2004

Child abuser back in the dock

A paedophile was hauled before the courts for changing her name and address without telling police.

Sharron Hurst, 36, of Brighton Road, Bensham, Gateshead, was found guilty of both charges when she appeared before the town’s magistrates.

Hurst is also known as Sharron Maguire, after changing her name in 2002.

She was convicted at Newcastle Crown Court in 1997 for a sexual offence against a child and after serving three years in jail, was released in February 2000.

Hurst appeared at Blaydon Magistrates’ Court after failing to tell police she had moved from her home in Eslington Court, Gateshead, to a friend’s house in Rawling Road, Gateshead.

Hurst admitted the first charge of failing to tell police she had changed her name but denied failing to inform them of the change of address.

Magistrates found Hurst guilty on the second charge of failing to inform police of her new address.

Magistrate Don Bowman told Hurst: “On release from prison you were given notice of the requirements of the Sexual Offenders Act.