South Shields sex offender breached court order after befriending mum of four and visiting her home '40 to 50 times'

Gary Alderson was given a sexual offences prevention order in 2005 which banned him from having any contact with children for life.

Newcastle Crown Court heard between September 2018 and April 2019 the 60-year-old befriended a mum, who had four children who were under 16, and made "40 to 50" visits to her home.

The court heard the mum was unaware Alderson, who is subject to lifelong sex offender registration, had been given any such order or posed any risk to her family.

Alderson, of Cragside, South Shields, admitted breach of a Sexual Offences Prevention Order.

Judge Edward Bindloss sentenced him to eight months in jail and said the sexual offences prevention order and sex offender registration requirements will continue for the rest of his life.

The judge told Alderson: "There is no suggestion you did anything wrong in relation to the children or that there was any sexual element at all in your visiting.

"But for this period of time these children were at risk.

"The order was there to protect children and you deliberately flouted it on a persistent basis."

The court heard Alderson poses a "high risk of sexual harm" but has been out of trouble for 15 years.

Judge Bindloss told him: "Thankfully, there was no actual harm done to any children here but there was a risk of harm, however."

The court heard Alderson has lost his home as a result of the breach offence and has a history of health problems.