A CONVICTED sex offender with a "clear sexual interest" in children failed to tell his new partner about his record.

Blackburn magistrates heard Karl Christopher Wilson didn't tell he was subject to a Sexual Harm Prevention order even when she said her two year old great-niece often visited and stayed over.

The court was told the child fell asleep during a Christmas Day visit and when she started to wake he offered to go and check on her.

Wilson, 52, of Avenue Parade, Accrington, pleaded guilty to breach of a Sexual Harm Prevention Order by attempting to contact a child under 16 and failing to comply with sex offender notification requirements to inform police when he was staying at a different address. He was committed on bail to Burnley Crown Court to be sentenced after District Judge Alex Boyd said his powers of punishment were insufficient.

Suzanne Ludlow, prosecuting, said Wilson did not tell his new partner about his history even when she revealed she had a two year old great-niece who regularly stayed over.

"At no stage did he inform her he was on the Sex Offender Register or subject to a Sexual Harm Prevention Order," said Miss Ludlow.

During a routine police compliance visit the relationship was revealed and when police spoke to his partner she said she had no idea about his past record.

"These offences are extremely serious due to his record," said Miss Ludlow.

"He was fully aware of the requirements and he was aware the child was going to be present. He didn't offer any information about his background and it is extremely concerning the he offered to go and check on the child. He has a clear sexual interest in children."

Wilson, who was not represented, said he felt some of his words had been "twisted" by the probation service that prepared a pre-sentence report and the prosecution.

"I didn't go out to deliberately look for any victims or anything," he said. "I didn't say I would go and check on the child I asked if they would like me to," he said.