A CONVICTED sex offender admitted viewing pornography on his phone when police carried out a compliance visit.
Blackburn magistrates heard officers discovered Paul Simmons had been using incognito mode on the phone which rendered it incapable of storing his browsing history, in breach of a sexual harm prevention order.
Simmons, 49, of Derby Street, Nelson, pleaded guilty to the breach. He was made subject to a community order for 18 months with 20 days rehabilitation and made subject to a curfew for eight weeks between 9pm and 7am. He was ordered to pay £85 costs and £85 victim surcharge.
Parveen Akhtar, prosecuting, said it was the second breach of the order imposed in 2015.
Nick Dearing, defending, said his client was an “isolated, lonely, vulnerable and extremely timid” man.
He said he was petrified about the possible outcome of his appearance in court.
“He would struggle enormously if he was sent to prison,” said Mr Dearing.
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