A CUMBRIAN man who secretly viewed images of escorts in school uniforms failed to tell two new parents he was a convicted sex offender.

In 2016, a judge jailed 49-year-old Matthew Clarke for possessing indecent child images and inciting a child to engage in sexual activity, Carlisle Crown Court heard. 

But when a couple he knew became parents, he arranged to meet them and give them a present without revealing the true nature of his previous offending. The defendant, of Hayclose Crescent, Kendal, admitted two breaches of a sexual harm prevention order.

Prosecutor Beth Pilling outlined the facts.

She said the offending came to light in February when police visited the defendant at his address in Kendal to carry out a routine check as part of his community monitoring as a sex offender.

When the officers looked at his mobile phone, they found messages between Clarke and a friend, during which the defendant congratulated the person and his partner on the arrival of their new-born child.

“He arranged a time to visit and to bring along a present,” said the barrister. During that visit, the parents remained in the room with their baby.

Miss Pilling continued: “They were aware that the defendant had been to prison but not why.

“[The father] had been told that it was in relation to fraud; the defendant had not informed the parents of his conviction in relation to sexual offences.” This was something he had to do as part of his sexual harm prevention order.

The second breach related to Clarke using websites which included images of “schoolgirls” in swimsuits and school uniforms.

Though the website featured adults, it was the “schoolgirl” references that rendered it legally off limits to the defendant under the terms of his sexual harm prevention order, which still has two years to run.

Graham Rishton, for Clarke, said the defendant had “let himself down” after working hard to rebuild his life following his earlier conviction at Leeds Crown Court. He had become an important member of his home community.

“He goes out of his way to help others, whether gardening or serving Christmas Dinner on Christmas Day to those who are alone in the community,” said the barrister.

Clarke had suffered anxiety and depression and had remained abstinent from alcohol after battling with it. “Part of this offending is down to his complacency,” added Mr Rishton.

Judge Nicholas Barker rejected the notion that the defendant’s offending had been down to complacency.

Referring to the defendant’s use of the “schoolgirls” website, the judge said: “I am satisfied that you have a continued sexual interest in children. You were seeking out pages which referred to escorts in school uniform.”

Clarke had failed to reveal the nature of his previous offending to the new parents because he was embarrassed and did not want them to know.

But the judge noted also that the defendant was remorseful and that what society needed was him to stop committing offences.

Judge Barker imposed a three-year community order which will include a sexual offender treatment programme and 15 rehabilitation activity days. As punishment, he must complete 120 hours of unpaid work in the community.

The judge added: “You need to address what is within you and that is something you are not at this stage doing.”