A CONVICTED rapist released from prison to live at a bail hostel in Accrington failed to register his bank account details with police as required by the terms of a sexual offences prevention order.

Blackburn magistrates heard Mark Jackson was aggressive towards police carrying out a compliance visit and told them he would make their job as difficult as possible.

Jackson, 56, of Highfield House, Accrington, pleaded guilty to breaching a sexual offences prevention order and was jailed for four weeks.

Andy Robinson, prosecuting, said Jackson had been released two weeks before the offence and was required to register bank details within three days.

When police went to his address he was antagonistic and aggressive, making threats against the officers involved in the original case.

Paul Huxley, defending, said the offence was not as straight-forward as it might appear.

When he was released after six years in prison he applied for benefits.

“The bank account was set up by the benefits agency with City Bank and was not the normal type of account,” said Mr Huxley.

“It is a bank account but he can’t go to a ‘hole in the wall’ and get some money.

"He is given a 10-digit pin number, which he then takes to a limited number of outlets to obtain his benefits. It has been done for him and it is not something he can access in the normal way.

“In the letter of the law, he has a bank account and he accepts he should have told the police about that,” said Mr Huxley.

He said the antagonism towards the police was because personal property taken by the police when he was jailed had not been returned.

“He came out of prison with nothing to his name and wanted his personal possessions back,” said Mr Huxley.