Gary Lee Roberts, of Huncoat, was given a sexual harm prevention order (SHPO) by Burnley Crown Court in May 2017 after being convicted of attempting to incite a child to engage in sexual activity and attempting to meet a child following sexual grooming.

Police officers visited the 44-year-old’s supported accommodation in February last year and an examination of his mobile phone showed that he had been chatting with ‘various males’ on Kik Messenger and some was ‘sexualised chat’, a court heard.

Prosecutor Craig MacGregor said police made enquiries with Kik Messenger and found that the defendant’s account had been used to join a friends group for 12-to-14-year-old children.

Burnley Crown Court was told that Roberts pretended to be a 14-year-old boy with a 31-year-old boyfriend.

Roberts, now of Darwen, pleaded guilty to breaching the SHPO and was sentenced to 15 months in prison, suspended for two years with a 30-day rehabilitation activity requirement and a five-week curfew.

He was also ordered to sign the sex offenders register for 10 years.

Judge Sara Dodd told Roberts that it was his final chance to avoid prison and if he committed any further offences he would receive an immediate jail sentence.