A fugitive Fife sex offender who went on the run for nearly two years before being brought to justice has been further sentenced for breaching his Register notification requirements.
Prisoner Robert Clark, formerly of Inverkeithing, had previously admitted two charges of indecent assault and one of intentionally causing another person to look at a sexual image.
He failed to show up to be sentenced at Tain Sheriff Court in November 2020.
It led to numerous public appeals by police for information on Clark’s whereabouts and warnings not to approach him.
The 59-year-old continued to evade police until this summer, when he was arrested in Fife.
Last month, he was finally sentenced for his crimes dating back to 2010 and 2013.
Defence lawyer Patrick O’Dea said at this earlier hearing his client had a “personal crisis” and “emotional breakdown” and started using illicit drugs before he fled.
The solicitor said Clark had been living with a friend who had not been “given the background” of his situation.
He said Clark “just didn’t have the courage to come forward sooner” in fear of being taken straight into custody.
Sheriff Gary Aitken jailed him for 10 months, backdated to August 29.
‘Very, very fortunate’
Clark appeared this week via video link at Dunfermline Sheriff Court to be sentenced for failing to notify police within three days of a change to his current address under the terms of the Sex Offenders Register.
Court papers state the offending took place between October 1 and November 18 2020.
Sheriff Andrew Berry told Clark: “By failing to do what you were told in terms of proceedings in Tain and here at Dunfermline, all you have done is create an even bigger hole for yourself than one you were in at the time.
“It’s clear your failure to do what you were told over the last two years has been taken into account at Tain (by the sentencing sheriff).”
Sheriff Berry jailed Clark for four months but this sentence will run concurrently to the existing 10-month sentence.
The sheriff added: “Mr Clark, you should consider yourself to be very, very fortunate.”
