A sex offender who was found guilty of failing to provide gardai with his new address has been sentenced to two years in prison.

Ian Bissett (28) of York House, Longford Street Little, Dublin 2 had pleaded not guilty to failing to notify gardai of his change of address within seven days on dates between July 13 and August 19, 2011.

He was found guilty of the offence last month following a trial.

On June 21, 2011 Bissett was released from prison after serving five years in 2006 for aggravated sexual assault and threatening to kill a man in September 2005.

At Dublin Circuit Criminal Court today Judge Martin Nolan sentenced Bissett to two years in prison to run concurrently to another sentence he is serving.

Sergeant Francis Byrne told Geraldine Small BL, prosecuting, that in 2011 Bissett was informed of his legal requirements under the Sex Offenders Act to provide gardai of his current address and of any change in his address.

“He complied with the order that day and gave an address at the Salvation Army Hostel in Dublin 2,’ said Sgt Byrne.

Sgt Byrne said on September 2, 2011 the manager of the hotel contacted gardai to say Bissett had failed to return to the hostel between July 21 and August 24. He said that on August 24, Bissett was barred from staying there.

He said in October 2011, Bissett was arrested and told gardai that the reason for the breach of the requirements was because “I suppose I had a warrant and didn’t want to get lifted on it.”

Sgt Byrne said Bissett told gardai he had moved to Limerick and failed to inform gardai of his new address because he “was homeless and fed up.”

Sgt Byrne said Bissett has 22 previous convictions including endangerment, robbery, assault causing harm and damaging property as well as the conviction for aggravated sexual assault and threat to kill.

He said Bissett is currently in custody with a release date of August 2016 for the endangerment offence.

Defence counsel Keith Spencer BL asked Judge Nolan not to increase Bissett’s current jail term.