A CONVICTED child sex offender gave a false name to a mother of three he started a relationship with.

Blackburn magistrates heard during the six months he kept up the pretence Gary Plant stayed at the woman’s home on numerous occasions while her children were present.

Plant, 31, of Romney Street, Nelson, pleaded guilty to failing to comply with requirements of the sex offender register. He was sentenced to 12 weeks in prison suspended for 12 months with 15 days’ rehabilitation activity requirement. He was ordered to pay £85 costs and £115 victim surcharge.

Philippa White, prosecuting, said Plant had been jailed for 32 months in September 2014 for arranging the commission of a child sex offence. He was put on the sex offender register indefinitely and made subject to a sexual offences prevention order for five years.

In September he met a woman in a Colne pub and they started a relationship. When police became aware he was in a relationship they spoke to her.

“It became apparent that she knew him as Garry Crossley and had done so since the start of their relationship,” said Mrs White. “She revealed he had slept over at her address on numerous occasions and her children had been there.”

Mrs White said when he was arrested Plant told police he understood the requirements of the sex offender register. He said he didn’t tell the female his proper name because he didn’t want to risk her finding his true history.

Kamran Yousuf, defending, said Plant had been made subject to the register four years ago and this was his first breach.

He said his client accepted he had introduced himself as Garry Crossley and that was because he was worried about vigilante action.

“This was the first and only time he has done this since his release from prison,” said Mr Yousuf.

He said Plant had never considered the woman as his girlfriend and said he had only stayed at her house four or five times.

“He says he is not interested in having a relationship and is content to live a single life,” said Mr Yousuf. “He has worked hard to turn his life around and I would say he deserves a chance.”

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