A 64-year-old woman previously convicted of serious child sex offences in two Australian states has been found guilty of failing to comply with reporting obligations after she failed to attend Dubbo Police Station for an annual review in April.
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Irene Joy Thompson pleaded guilty to the charge in Dubbo Local Court on Wednesday after police arrested her earlier in the day. Her legal representative said the need to report to police "slipped her mind".
In documents presented to the court, police said they last spoke with Thompson in February and since then, made several unsuccessful attempts to contact her.
"Investigating police have concerns for the safety of members within the community due to the accused's disregard for her reporting obligations," police said.
In April 2004 Thompson was "convicted by a Queensland court for the offence of rape" and "imprisoned for seven years", police said in the court documents.
Thompson was also convicted of the "indecent treatment of children under 16" in June 2004 and jailed for 18 months, police said.
In September 2012, police said a NSW court convicted Thompson of seven counts of aggravated sexual assault of a victim aged under 16 years of age. She was jailed for eight years and six months, with a non-parole period of five years imposed.
After her stint behind bars, Thompson was placed on a child protection register for 15 years, which requires her to comply with strict reporting obligations.
Police said Thompson "displays a disregard for the requirements placed upon her".
In court Magistrate Gary Wilson convicted Thompson of failing to report, issued no penalty and allowed her to re-enter the community.
The federal government has promised to spend $7.8 million to establish a National Public Register of Child Sex Offenders.
