Former West Cumbria councillor admits breaching sex offender orders
A former West Cumbria councillor jailed for an online child sex offence has admitted breaching the legal requirements imposed as part of his original sentence.
Last updated 12th Feb 2026
William James Kirkbride, 61, previously served as a Labour member on Copeland Borough Council.
In June 2022, Carlisle Crown Court sentenced him to 28 months in prison after he sent explicit messages to an undercover officer he believed was a 14-year-old boy.
Kirkbride had arranged to meet the “boy” at a train station and admitted a charge of arranging or facilitating the commission of a child sex offence.
As part of his punishment, Kirkbride was subject to a sexual harm prevention order (SHPO) and sex offender notification requirements, which legally obliged him to keep police updated with personal information and details of any electronic devices.
Breaches of legal requirements
At Carlisle Magistrates’ Court on Thursday, Kirkbride pleaded guilty to eight offences: five breaches of the notification requirements and three breaches of the SHPO.
The offences occurred between September 2021 and 11 February 2026.
Police seized a Samsung phone Kirkbride had failed to declare. Analysis of the device revealed additional offences.
Investigators also found he had not reported an email address, three online usernames—including a Facebook alias, a bank account, and a credit card.
Kirkbride also failed to notify police within the required three-day period that he possessed the phone, a laptop, and a dongle.
He reportedly told officers he did not declare the phone because he feared it would be taken from him.
District Judge Philip Holden committed the case for sentencing at Carlisle Crown Court, requesting a probation service pre-sentence report.
Kirkbride is due to appear at Crown Court on 13 March and has been remanded in custody.
No bail application was made by his solicitor.