A CONVICTED sex offender was caught in public with a mobile phone which was capable of taking pictures.

Blackburn magistrates heard having the camera in public put Paul Nuttall in breach of a sexual offences prevention order.

And the court was told it was his fourth breach of the order, the last three of which had resulted in prison sentences.

Nuttall, 57, of Walsh Street, Blackburn, pleaded guilty to breach of a sexual offences prevention order. He was sent on bail to Preston Crown Court to be sentenced on June 4.

Tracy Yates, prosecuting, said Nuttall had been made subject to an indefinite order which did not allow him to possess a camera or video recording equipment in a public place. He was seen on Simmonds street in possession of a mobile phone which had a camera.

Mrs Yates said Nuttall had been convicted of possessing indecent images of children in 2008 and a similar offence in 2010.

Gareth Price, defending, said his client appreciated the serious position he had put himself in.

"He is disgusted with his foolishness at taking the mobile phone out with him," said Mr Price. "He is not prohibited from owning a device, just taking it out in public."

Mr Price said that during a compliance visit two weeks earlier Nuttall had produced the phone to the police.

"There was no attempt to hide it then and when he was arrested yesterday he had the phone in his hand," said Mr Price.