In 2010, the Offender Database reported that Alexander Potts, then of Kilmarnock, Ayrshire, was returned to prison after “persistently” breaching the terms of his early release licence. On Friday, 30 July 2010, the Scottish Prison Service confirmed that Potts was back in custody just weeks after being granted freedom from his most recent sentence.
The investigation into his history established that Potts has a “systematic” record of flouting court orders and licence conditions. In 2007, he was handed a two-year sentence for sexual assault. Following an early release from that term, he was caught accessing teenage websites at the Dick Institute in Kilmarnock, which resulted in an 18-month sentence in March 2009. His latest return to jail followed a breach of the licence conditions set during that 2009 term.
Recidivism and Community Concerns
The court reported that Potts had been staying at the St Andrews Hostel homeless accommodation in Kilmarnock immediately following his most recent release, before securing a private let in Bank Street. However, by the start of July 2010, his “reprehensible” inability to comply with supervision led to his immediate recall. While specific details of the latest breach were not made public, his “persistent” behaviour has caused significant local concern.
The prosecution of his public record reveals a “sinister” pattern of seeking out restricted digital content. A source close to the case questioned the utility of granting early release to individuals who “blatantly flouted” conditions in the past. Both the Scottish Government and the Parole Board for Scotland declined to comment on the specifics of his management, citing privacy policies regarding individual prisoners.
Sentence and Statutory Requirements
For his “abhorrent” failures to comply with the law in Kilmarnock, Ayrshire, Alexander Potts was handed:
- Licence Recall: Immediate return to custody to serve the remainder of his sentence.
- Sex Offenders Register: Notification requirements were maintained (typically for life for repeat sexual offenders).
- Licence Conditions: Strict prohibitions on accessing specific internet sites and monitoring of his movements.
Monitoring and Public Protection
Potts is managed under Multi-Agency Public Protection Arrangements (MAPPA) by Police Scotland. His history of “persistent” sexual assault and the subsequent pursuit of teenage-related content online means his status remains under “critical” scrutiny.
As a member of the Sex Offenders Register, Potts must comply with strict notification requirements regarding his address in Kilmarnock, Ayrshire. Authorities state that his repeated recalls to prison reflect the “serious” nature of the risk he poses when not under direct supervision. Any further attempt to breach his licence or his registration conditions following his eventual release will result in his immediate return to custody.
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