Sex offender broke court order by giving boy a lift in his sports car

Registered sex offender David Hope had also stayed at a place where another boy, aged under 16, was residing during a visit to Ludlow from his home in Leeds, West Yorkshire, Telford Magistrates Court heard.

The 69-year-old, who previously taught music, was made subject of a sexual harm prevention order lasting five years in 2013 after being caught in possession of indecent images of children. It prohibited him from having unsupervised contact with a boy under the age of 16, among other things.

Leeds Crown Court previously heard he had more than 2,000 images of boys, many wearing just swimming trucks or their underwear, which he had downloaded on the internet or which were photographs.

Telford Magistrates Court heard yesterday that Hope had stayed in Ludlow in August last year. Ms Abigail Hall, prosecuting, said he had been sat in an outside courtyard where another boy had been present. She told the court that the boy's mother had been unaware of his conviction and he had failed to tell police he was staying somewhere where other children were staying.

Ms Hall said on another occasion he had given a lift to another boy in his sports car. She said: "He was alone with him for approximately 15 minutes or so."

Hope, of Granby Close in Headingley, Leeds, pleaded guilty to failing to comply with the requirements of the sex offenders register and breaching his sexual harm prevention order.

Representing himself at court, Hope told magistrates: "I have had this order now for four years. I've followed it."

Hope said when he arrived in Ludlow and realised a child would be staying at the same place as him he had tried to call his public protection officer in Leeds, but had no phone signal.

He said the second boy had been keen to ride in his car, but added: "I shouldn't have done it."

Magistrates adjourned the case for a probation officer to prepare a report.