A REGISTERED sex offender who broke the terms of a court order and attempted to communicate sexually with what he thought was a child has been jailed for five-and-a-half years.

Iain Stavert was brought before Preston Crown Court for sentencing on Thursday (November 16) following work by police after he communicated online with a law enforcement employee who he believed to be a child.

The 60-year-old of Low White Close, Barrow, admitted to attempting to engage in sexual communication with a child, breaching and attempting to breach a sexual harm prevention order and failing to comply with the notification requirements of the Sex Offenders Register.

Speaking after the sentencing, Detective Constable Ashlynne Elliot who oversaw the case, said: “We work hard to monitor and manage people who are subject to such orders.

“As in this case, we will find out if they breach the terms of these preventative orders and we will do all we can to ensure they are held accountable for their offending.”