Preston and Blackpool criminal dubbed 'Britain's most prolific offender' has been jailed again

A man dubbed Britain’s most prolific criminal after racking up more than 500 offences, was jailed again after flouting his sexual offender notification requirements.
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Patrick Shaun John Ryan, 64, of no fixed abode, was jailed by Preston magistrates for 16 weeks after admitting failing to register an address with police and flouting his supervision requirements.

The court heard he breached his post sentence supervision by failing to be present for - or to attend -probation appointments, and officers had not been able to contact him.

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The court said he had a flagrant disregard for court orders and that it was aggravated by his record.

Patrick Ryan (Pic:Lancashire Police)Patrick Ryan (Pic:Lancashire Police)
Patrick Ryan (Pic:Lancashire Police)

Ryan has more than 400 convictions.

He previously hit the headlines over claims his offending has cost the taxpayer around £3m in prison and police costs.

The majority of his offences have been for fraudulently ordering food and drink at restaurants.

Ryan, who started drinking aged 13 and became an alcoholic, previously remarked the sentences he received had kept him alive as he gets the chance to stop drinking and to “dry out”.

In 2016 he calculated he had spent more than 35 years in jail since first appearing in court 50 years ago.