A convicted sex offender who failed to register his address with police following his release from prison has been back in court.

Blackburn Magistrates' Court was told Ashley Barratt was arrested after police forced entry to a property where he was staying.

Barratt, 34, of no fixed address, pleaded guilty to failing to comply with notification requirements.

He was sent in custody to Burnley Crown Court to be sentenced.

District Judge Alexandra Preston told the court Barratt had 17 previous similar convictions and clearly knew what the requirements were, and added: "I don’t consider my powers of punishment are sufficient to deal with this."

Glen Anderton, prosecuting, said on his release from prison Barratt was provided with an address in Great Harwood.

He failed to register the address with the police who were eventually informed he had been evicted and the locks changed when he failed to attend an initial meeting with the letting agency.

Police enquiries linked them to an address where they were refused admission.

“They forced entry and found the defendant in the property,” said Mr Anderton.

Peter King, in mitigation, said his client had been provided with the address in Great Harwood and went there on his release.

“He missed a meeting with the letting agents and they took steps to close the property to him,” said Mr King.