A child sex abuser who breached a sexual harm prevention order by staying at the home of a woman and her children without being honest about his previous convictions has been sentenced.

David Chandler told the woman about a previous conviction for having indecent images of children but didn’t mention other convictions involving child sex abuse, Ipswich Crown Court heard.

The offences came to light after Chandler told police he had stayed at the home of the woman and her children aged 10 and 13 and claimed he had told her about his previous convictions.

However, when officers spoke to the woman, they discovered that Chandler had only told her about his conviction for having indecent images of children and not those for child sex abuse.

She told police that Chandler had stayed with her overnight on two occasions in January and February last year when the children were at the premises.

The court heard that Chandler was made the subject of a sexual harm prevention order (SHPO) and ordered to sign the sex offenders’ register in 2008 after being jailed for three years for offences including assault by penetration of a child under 13, sexual assault and possessing indecent images of children.

He had breached the SHPO once before in 2016 by having contact with the children of another woman and taking a family group picture without her knowledge.

The court heard that there was no suggestion of anything inappropriate taking place between Chandler and the children on that occasion.

Chandler, 58, of Marine Parade, Lowestoft, admitted breach of a sexual harm prevention order and breach of notification requirements.

He was given a 12-month prison sentence suspended for two years, a 50-day rehabilitation activity requirement and ordered to pay £340 costs.

Sentencing Chandler, Judge Levett said it was important that he complied with the terms of the court orders so that women he stayed with who had children were aware of his previous convictions.