Christopher Thomas fined $1500 for failing to report as sex offender
A man has avoided prison after lying to police about his address while required to report his whereabouts as a registered child sex offender.
A Sunshine Coast man has avoided jail after admitting to misleading police and failing to report as a registered child sex offender.
Christopher James Thomas, 48, pleaded guilty to one charge of failing to comply with reporting and one charge of giving false and misleading information in the Maroochydore Magistrates Court on Wednesday, December 3.
Police prosecutor Jeanette Grigoris said Thomas told police he had no fixed address, when he was living with a new partner.
“He had contact with police in March 2025 when he was located at a caravan park on the Sunshine Coast and on that occasion he was reminded of his obligations to maintain reports of his whereabouts, he had further contact with police again on April 13 and he specifically stated to police he had no fixed place of abode, inquiries revealed he had in fact been residing with a female he had met,” Sergeant Grigoris said.
Sergeant Grigoris said a period of imprisonment was warranted given Thomas’s “total disregard” for his conditions as a reportable offender, after he was sentenced for possessing child exploitation material in January this year.
The court was also told of the 48-year-old’s “serious domestic violence offences” and that he had spent 337 days in prison for separate charges.
Solicitor Michael Robinson told the court the 48-year-old was not intentionally evading police given he supplied an updated postal address to the Department of Transport and Main Roads.
Magistrate Raelene Ellis told the court Thomas had presented to court with a “concerning” criminal history.
Ms Ellis ordered Thomas pay a $1500 fine.
A conviction was recorded.
