A sex offender who breached a court order by lying about a mobile phone he claimed not to have has been jailed following an investigation.
A jury at Preston Crown Court also heard that Michael Knight used a fake name while communicating online. Knight had failed to notify police he was using the alias Jack Keller, which was also a breach of his notification requirements.
The breaches came to light after 51-year-old Knight was seen with the phone, which he had also failed to notify police about.
When officers from the East MOSOVO (Management Of Sexual Offenders and Violent Offenders) Team went to investigate the breach, Knight said: “I knew this would happen. It’s not a phone, it’s a battery.”
Knight had already disposed of the phone before officers arrived.
Knight, now of no fixed address but formerly from Blackburn, denied one count of breaching his notification requirements and two counts of breaching his sexual harm prevention order. He was found guilty of all counts following a trial earlier this week.
Knight was given a sentence totalling three years.
DC Tom Dawson, of the East MOSOVO Team, said: “Despite Knight using another name to hide his true identity and disposing of a mobile smartphone he had used, such was the evidence that he was found guilty by jury of all three charges.
“I hope this sends a clear message to any registered sex offender that shows disregard for their notification requirements and a sexual harm prevention order that Lancashire Police will do everything in their power to ensure they are adhered to.”
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