A CONVICTED paedophile who ended up as a babysitter for a Rossendale family has been branded a ‘manipulator’ as a judge jailed him for 16 months.

Stephen Berry, 34, is now serving his fifth prison sentence for flouting court orders designed to keep him away from children.

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And a judge has urged the authorities to consider further steps to curb his movements when a 10-year sexual offences prevention order expires in December.

A mother-of-three became friendly with Berry, whom she had known since they were teenagers, and he used to help around their house, doing odd jobs, Burnley Crown Court was told.

Kimberley Obrusik, prosecuting, said Berry even babysat for the couple on occasion.

But the pair were completely unaware that Berry was convicted, in October 2001, of sexual activity with a girl aged 16 and indecent assault offences.

Miss Obrusik said the defendant was also convicted of possession of indecent photos by Hyndburn magistrates in November 2002 and made the subject of his sexual offences prevention order by Chorley magistrates in December 2005.

One of the conditions of the order was no unsupervised contact with under-16s.

The court heard that Berry had also stopped over at a house where a child lived with the mother unaware of his past.

Jane Dagnall, defending, said probation officers described her client as a ‘manipulator’ who moved to hide his background.

But she told the court that he also had problem-solving skills and did not always appreciate the consequences of his actions.

She added: “He had moved to Bacup after a previous conviction had led him to fear for his safety in the Preston area.

“There were no actual sexual assault offences committed and he did plead guilty so I ask for credit for that.”

Jailing him, Judge Simon Newell said: “If you are in contact with people then you have to tell them what the situation is.

“It has to be for your benefit and the benefit of society at large.”

The judge told the court he hoped that the authorities would consider applying for further preventative measures when Berry’s sexual offences prevention order runs out in December.