A CONVICTED online sex offender from Workington has been handed a suspended jail sentence for twice breaching his sexual harm prevention order.

Stephen McCue, 63, who was originally prosecuted after he was the subject of an online a paedophile-hunter’s sting, admitted two counts of flouting an order designed to curb and monitor his online activities.

He committed both offences between July 6, 2020 and May 20 last year in Workington, Carlisle Crown Court heard.

The first offence involved him possessing and using an 'internet-capable smartphone' which he did not disclose to Cumbria Constabulary as required under his sexual harm prevention order imposed in January, 2020.

The second offence consisted of him deleting his internet browsing history from that smartphone – again something that was prohibited by his court order.

After hearing the details, Judge Nicholas Barker imposed a 14-month jail term but he suspended that term for two years. As punishment, McCue must observe a 7pm to 6am curfew for three months.

When originally prosecuted, McCue, of Salterbeck, admitted attempting to incite a child to engage in sexual activity over a number of days. He believed – wrongly – that he was communicating with a 13-year-old girl.

He engaged her in a series of explicitly sexual conversations and even suggested that she might like to show him round the city where she said she lived. He also encouraged the girl to perform sexual acts, and told her he was doing the same.

His defence barrister said McCue was not a sexual predator and had not set out to deliberately find a child online. "He was looking for females he found attractive," said Mr Burke, adding that McCue had issues with loneliness.

He was caught after an only sting by the Child Online Safety Team.

Commenting at the time of his sentencing, an NSPCC spokesman said: "McCue’s case shows just how easily predators can target young children through social media. McCue’s intention was the incitement of sexual behaviour for his own warped gratification.

"The case highlights just how dangerous the internet can be for young people.

"This is why the NSPCC’s #WildWestWeb campaign is urging the government to introduce tough regulations forcing social media companies to act and put safeguarding our children front and centre.”

READ MORE: West Cumbrian pervert put on Sex Offenders' Register.