A middle-aged man with an unhealthy interest in children has been jailed, after he flouted a court order designed to keep him away from them.

Brian Key, 49, was banned by a judge from having any unsupervised access to children, after he was convicted of harassing two 14-year-old girls online in an offence that a judge ruled was sexually motivated.

Despite the court’s restraining order that banned any contact with children, Key asked a seven-year-old boy to sit on his knee, Carlisle Crown Court heard.

Originally from Whitehaven but recently living at Freshfield Court, Botcherby, Carlisle, Key admitted three breaches of the court order, which also banned him from opening any social media accounts.

It was imposed in 2014.

The court heard how his latest offences came to light as police kept him under close observation in Carlisle. Officers saw Key speaking to two under-16-year-olds in Carlisle city centre.

Jon Close, prosecuting, said that in June of last year Key used Facebook to send out several friend requests.

In his profile, Key stated: “I am Brian Key.

“I like men and women, and little boys and girls, and am looking for any to be in my life.”

In his original harassment prosecution, the court heard that Key posed on Facebook as a 19-year-old and bombarded his 14-year-old victims with messages.

Police got involved after he went to them for help because the mother of one of the girls called him, warning him to stay away from her daughter.

It emerged that Key had asked for a relationship with one of the girls.

Key told police he had been having a laugh.

His barrister told the court that Key had learning difficulties and was lonely.

The barrister said Key’s decision to contact the police because he felt threatened showed his naivety.

She said: “That clearly shows a lack of insight into his behaviour and the effect it would have on these young girls. He is a man who clearly has some learning difficulties, and difficulties in general dealing with life.”