By Phil Coleman

Last updated at 12:11, Tuesday, 13 March 2012

A pervert who tried to take indecent pictures of men and boys in public toilets has been banned from public conveniences for ten years.

Carlisle Crown Court heard that Gary Flanagan, 26, who suffered a serious brain injury as a child, had pursued his unhealthy sexual interest for years and had downloaded child pornography on his home computer.

Matters came to a head when he visited a public toilet in Jane Street, Whitehaven, and used his mobile phone in an attempt to take a picture of a man in a cubicle.

Flanagan, of The Oval, Whitehaven, admitted a single count of voyeurism and 23 charges of downloading child porn. Prosecutor Alan Lovett told the court that there were more than 200 images, including some in the most serious category of depravity. Some images were videos.

The judge imposed a three-year community order – the maximum period possible, with supervision, and a requirement to take a sexual offenders’ programme.

He also imposed a Sexual Offences Prevention Order, preventing unsupervised contact with children without parental consent for five years and restricting his access to the internet. Flanagan must be on the Sex Offenders Register for five years.

First published at 11:30, Tuesday, 13 March 2012
Published by http://www.newsandstar.co.uk