A MAN who failed to notify the sex offenders' register when he changed his name, address and left the country, has avoided punishment.

Martyn Nichols - previously Martyn Williams - was placed on the sex offenders' register after a 1996 charge of indecent assault.

On Thursday Worcester Magistrates Court heard that the 39-year-old believed his seven-year registration period was over when he joined his girlfriend working in New Zealand at the end of 2003 and beginning of 2004.

Finding out his girlfriend was pregnant, the defendant changed his name to coincide with her family so the child could keep his mother's surname.

The couple, whose child is now 17-months-old, then returned from New Zealand to Nichols' address in Sycamore Avenue, Evesham, where he was arrested on July 20.

Barry Newton, defending, said: "In June 1996 there were no registration requirements, they came in, in 1997.

"He believed that they ended in late 2003 but the legislation then changed and there's no obligation on behalf of the authorities to notify the subject.

"In fact the current advice is that registration now ends in June next year.

"In this particular circumstance there's nothing sinister or nefarious and nothing I would say that needs punishing."

Mr Newton added that Nichols had not committed any other crimes and had attended court every time he was required.

Magistrates agreed to a conditional discharge for a year - meaning he will not be punished unless he re-offends in that time - and ordered him to pay court costs of £75.