A CONVICTED sex offender who failed to tell a long-time friend and mother about his history has been warned by a judge.

Gary Crook-Koncz, 25, was only in the company of the young mother and her baby for two short periods of time, Burnley Crown Court was told.

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But the mother later confirmed to police she would never have let him into her home if she had known, and felt ‘disappointed’ with him.

Crook-Koncz was given a 12-month prison sentence, suspended for 24 months, last summer after he admitted to sexual activity with a child.

He was also issued with a sexual harm prevention order, restricting his contact with under-16s for 10 years.

Daniel Prowse, prosecuting, said police were conducting telephone checks with Crook-Koncz on October 28 when an officer heard a child crying in the background.

Crook-Koncz, formerly of Tong Lane, Bacup, but now of Blackburn Road, Accrington, tried to tell the officer that the child was only passing by outside but later admitted the youngster had been present.

An investigation discovered that the infant belonged to a friend who had known him for around 18 years, the court heard.

But the defendant had not told her about his sexual offending.

He had also been to her home on two occasions but her baby daughter had been asleep upstairs.

Robert Elias, defending, said there was no potential harm to the baby, as her mother had been present throughout.

Before the hearing Crook-Koncz had been ‘literally shaking’ with apprehension about what might happen to him, he told the court.

The defendant had also been held on remand since his arrest, after being refused bail, and had served the equivalent of a three-month jail sentence, the court heard.

Judge Jonathon Gibson said that the experience should reinforce to the defendant that court orders needed to be obeyed.

He was given a 12-week prison sentence by the judge, which would allow for his immediate release from custody. Crook-Koncz was given a four-week curfew and will remain under probation supervision.