A WEST Cumbrian sex offender has appeared before a Carlisle Crown Court judge for a fresh set of offences.

Benjamin James Connor, 46, appearing before the court via a video link, pleaded guilty to four offences, including an allegation that he downloaded indecent images of children.

He did that between January 21 and March 19.

The defendant, of Duke Street, Cleator Moor, also entered guilty pleas to three further charges – all of them allegations that he breached his sexual harm prevention order.

The court heard that between January and March this year he did this in three ways. The first offence involved him using an iPad to access the internet without notifying his police offender manager.

The second offence involved him using a Samsung mobile phone to secretly access the internet, again without telling his offender manager as required by his order.

The third breach involved the defendant making use of a “virtual private network” while accessing the internet without notifying the authorities.

In court, defence barrister Kim Whittlestone said background papers confirmed that the defendant, while cooperating with probation service officials, had not been taking his medication.

Efforts were also underway to find Connor supervised and secure accommodation. Despite numerous attempts to achieve that, it had still not happened.

The barrister said the sentence – which was likely to be jail – should be adjourned until further information was available to the court. Recorder David Temkin QC agreed.

He adjourned the sentencing hearing until Thursday, May 5. In the meantime, Connor will remain remanded in custody.

In January, Connor was sentenced for outraging public decency – when he exposed himself at a Pelican garage in the Whitehaven area in a way that was “revolting” for those who saw it, said a judge.

At the time, said Judge Nicholas Barker, Connor was clearly suffering from a mental health episode which was probably linked to him not taking his required medication.