A SEX offender banned from having any contact with children was caught with an 11-year-old girl in his home.
David Stephenson had lured the girl from local shops with promises of pop and biscuits in exchange for her fixing his video recorder.
The 65-year-old was collared when a social worker made a random visit to his home at The Lonnen, South Shields, a
nd saw the girl there.
Newcastle Crown Court heard how Stephenson, who has 29 convictions for indecent exposure, two for gross indecency with children, and another serious sexual offence, had targeted the youngster while he was out on his mobility scooter, and approached her when he was certain she was alone.
At the time of the incident on July 30, Stephenson was the subject of a 15-year Sexual Offences Prevention Order, which banned him from having any contact with the under 16s. He admitted breaching the order at an earlier hearing.
Mr Recorder Christopher Batty said he was convinced Stephenson's use of the scooter, and his frail appearance, assisted him in gaining the girl's trust.
The judge said: "He lured this girl to his home where he intended to stay with her that afternoon. With his record, who knows where that may have gone. I take a very dim view of this.
"The frailty, and the fact he possesses the scooter, is something he played upon, it is something which gave him credibility."
The judge jailed the pensioner, who was sentenced via TV link directly to HMP Holme House because of his ill health, for two years.
Judge Batty added: "You picked on an 11-year-old, naive girl who was alone at the shops. Not only should you not have approached her, you certainly should not have taken her to your home."
Kevin Smalcombe, defending, said Stephenson's already poor health is deteriorating.
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