Former Copeland Councillor Jailed Again for Breaching Sex Offender Order

A former West Cumbrian councillor has been jailed again after admitting multiple breaches of court orders linked to a previous child sex offence.

William Kirkbride, a former member of Copeland Borough Council, was sentenced at Carlisle Crown Court after failing to follow the conditions placed on him following his earlier conviction.

Original Conviction

Kirkbride was first jailed in 2022 after arranging to meet someone he believed was a 14-year-old boy following conversations on the dating app Grindr.

The person he was communicating with was actually an adult decoy.

The exchanges quickly turned sexual and Kirkbride later arranged to meet the boy at a train station. He was arrested and later admitted arranging or facilitating the commission of a child sex offence.

A judge described his behaviour at the time as that of a “predatory paedophile.”

He was sentenced to 28 months in prison.

Strict Monitoring Requirements

Following that conviction, Kirkbride was made subject to strict monitoring rules.

These included:

• a Sexual Harm Prevention Order

• sex offender notification requirements

Under these conditions he was required to inform police about personal information, online identities, and any devices capable of accessing the internet for a period of 10 years.

Previous Breach in 2024

Kirkbride appeared in court again in January 2024 after failing to notify police that he had used the dating app Grindr.

He received a night-time curfew as punishment for that breach.

Latest Offences

The court heard that Kirkbride, now aged 61, committed further breaches of the notification rules.

He admitted failing to inform police about:

• an email address

• three online usernames, including a Facebook alias “Alex Walsh”

• a bank account and card

He also failed to declare several internet-enabled devices including:

• a Samsung mobile phone

• a laptop

• an internet-enabled streaming device

How the Breaches Were Discovered

Police were alerted after Whitehaven Town Council received a Freedom of Information request sent from an undisclosed email address.

One email was signed Alex Walsh, while another was signed Bill Kirkbride.

Because Kirkbride was known to be subject to notification requirements, the council reported the matter to police.

Officers later investigated and seized the undeclared devices from his home.

Explanation Given in Court

Kirkbride told police the mobile phone had been given to him by his brother so he could make the Freedom of Information request.

He admitted he had not told police about the devices or usernames because he feared they would be seized, leaving him unable to access the internet.

Defence and Sentencing

Defence lawyer John Crawford told the court there was no evidence Kirkbride had used the devices to communicate with anyone online.

He also said Kirkbride suffers from anxiety and depression and would need support after his release to avoid becoming isolated.

However, Judge Michael Fanning said the breaches were serious and noted Kirkbride had deliberately tried to avoid monitoring.

“You accept you have got these devices and these aliases precisely to prevent you from being monitored,” the judge said.

Kirkbride was sentenced to 12 months in prison for the latest offences.