A DANGEROUS sex offender whose criminal history includes downloading indecent child images and flashing at strangers was caught buying knives in Carlisle in the early hours of the morning.

At Carlisle’s Rickergate court, a Crown Prosecution Service lawyer described west Cumbrian man Benjamin Connor, 47, as a “danger to the public.”

The defendant pleaded guilty to four offences: possessing four knives illegally in the Asda car park at St Nicholas Gate, Carlisle, and three counts of breaching a sexual harm prevention order by having a secret phone and software.

He had an undeclared iPhone on September 19 while living at approved accommodation in Carlisle city centre last year. He also acquired a “private web browser,” and used a virtual private network to access “dark web” applications.

Andy Travis, prosecuting, said the defendant was put on the Sex Offender Register and made subject to a sexual harm prevention order in February 2020.

The Carlisle Crown Court order he was given bans him from having any device which can access the internet unless the police have been informed and the device is fitted with police monitoring software.

He is also banned from using any software that can hide or delete his internet browsing history. The defendant, formerly of Parton, near Whitehaven, has a history of relevant offending on his record.

He has previous convictions for indecent exposure, going back to 2011; downloading indecent child images; knife possession; and breaches of his court order. Connor also has more recent convictions for downloading child abuse images, on dates in 2017, and at the beginning of 2022.

Describing the knife offence he committed this week, Mr Travis said: “He was released from prison on Monday and the next day he was at Asda as soon as it opened, buying knives.”

Connor had immediately taken the four knives out of their packet but was told by security staff at the store to put them away. He then left the store and was quickly arrested by the police in the nearby car park.

Mr Travis said: “He’s a violent man and he is a danger to the public and there is no court [order] that can prevent him from so being.” Mr Travis added that the case was so serious that Connor should be sentenced by a crown court judge.

The court heard that when police arrested the defendant he was found to be in possession of an SD card and a USB memory stick. Those devices were yet to be forensically examined by detectives, said Mr Travis.

Kate Hunter, for Connor, said he has a history of mental health issues, including personality disorder and schizoaffective disorder.  The lawyer accepted that it would be appropriate for Connor to be sentenced at Carlisle Crown Court.

Deputy District Judge Simon Blakbrough told the defendant, who gave an address of Irton, Holmrook: “You have pleaded guilty to two sets of offences and you will get credit for that.

“However, even with that credit, and looking at your history, and what the court must sentence you for, it is too serious to be dealt with at this magistrates court today. Therefore the case will be committed to the crown court and you will be produced there on April 19.”

The judge warned that Connor is facing a “significant term of imprisonment.” The defendant will remain remanded in custody until his next court appearance.