A CONVICTED Dumbarton rapist failed to notify police of his new address – twice within nine months.

Ross Wright appeared from custody at Dumbarton Sheriff Court after he failed to comply with the notification requirements of the Sexual Offences Act, in October last year and June this year.

During the hearing on November 23, fiscal depute Mark Nicol said that on the first occasion he was released from HMP Barlinnie in May last year and was residing in Brucehill Road.

However, on October 14 police had reason to attend his property to locate Wright. Later that day the 27-year-old was seen on CCTV withdrawing money from an ATM at a shop nearby.

Cops continued their efforts to trace Wright at his home address over the next couple of days, but noticed no personal items had been left behind at the property apart from a few clothes.

A missing person appeal was then launched after he was last seen on October 13 in the town. It warned people not to approach the 27-year-old, who was found guilty of raping a young mum in Clydebank in 2014.

The nationwide manhunt successfully helped police find him October 21 and he was jailed.

On the second occasion he broke the law he registered his address at a flat on McAllister Road in Alexandria, however in June this year he was granted permission to move in with his partner.

A housing officer from West Dunbartonshire Council went to visit Wright at the Alexandria property on June 24 this year, but noticed it was vacant.

In a turn of events, the sex offender had moved into another property in Ashton View in Dumbarton on June 30.

Cops attended that address on July 1 to check in with Wright. They knocked and shouted through the letterbox, but eventually had to force entry into the property. Wright eventually presented himself to cops and he was arrested after he failed to notify them about the change.

The 27-year-old chose to represent himself. He explained to the court: “It was my responsibility to let them know of my new address and I failed to do that.”

Sheriff Hendry deferred his sentencing until next month to await the outcome of a separate case in Hamilton.