A CHILD sex offender who was banned from having a mobile phone with an integrated camera tried to conceal he owned such a device from police.

Blackburn magistrates heard officers found the box for a mobile when they carried out a routine check at the home of Paul Lawrence Nuttall.

MORE TOP STORIES:

He said there was no phone but officers found it hidden under a cushion and it had been used to take photographs.

Nuttall, 55, of Walsh Street, Blackburn, pleaded guilty to breaching a sexual offences prevention order (SOPO).

He was sent to Preston Crown Court to be sentenced.

Kerry Grieve, prosecuting, said Nuttall had been breached a SOPO in 2013 by approaching two six-year-old boys and engaging them in conversation. He had been jailed for the offence and a new SOPO made.

“As part of that order police carry out routine checks and on this day they found a mobile phone box in his home,” said Mrs Grieve. “He told the officers he didn’t know where the phone was but they found it under a cushion where he had been sitting.”

Mrs Grieve said Nuttall had several breaches of the SOPO and had failed to comply with notification requirements several times.

“Given his record of non-compliance and his history of sexual offences the Crown says this offence should be sent to the Crown Court to be sentenced,” said Mrs Grieve.

Gareth Price, defending, said his client had bought the phone to listen to music.

“The photographs were of labels on computers in a shop so he could consider them for purchase at a future date,” said Mr Price.