I know him...
... and he has re-built his life since his mis-deeds. He's kicked his drug habbit, hasn't committed any further crimes and now has a family with a fiancee and a young child. He has had one, continuous job since the events four years ago and that employer is more than willing to take him back on his release.
As the article states, he admitted to it four years ago and the last he heard before his re-arrest was "you might get a summons in the post". There is really no excuse for the time delay and it does just seem to be one big abuse of process.
In addition to the CPS/Police apparent disregard for Article 6 of HRT, the Probation service were recommending non-custodial punishment so it baffles me that this seemingly awake Judge handed down an un-suspended Custodial scentence.
However, given the way the prison system works in the UK, if he behaves inside and the Probation board deems him to not be a risk, he could be released after 1/3rd of his scentence (~5 months)
@Robert E A Harvey - his "Registered Address" is where he is registered to vote, pay taxes and, funilly enough, the address the police had for him.