A TRAVELLING salesman with a history of sexual offences has been banned from associating with children under 16 when he is released from prison.

And a district Judge sitting at Blackburn magistrates overturned a previous decision banning publication of William Alfred Rogers' name.

The 56-year-old, formerly from Euxton, near Chorley, is due to live in East Lancashire when he is released from prison in a month's time.

He has been made subject to a Sexual Offences Prevention Order (SOPO) and the district judge, Peter Ward, warned him that he faces five years in jail if he breaches the order.

"For the best part of 40 years you have been committing sexual offences, a lot of indecent exposures but some of them serious assaults," said Mr Ward.

"You present a continuing risk to the public and I am satisfied there is a risk of serious sexual harm on your release.

"Something has to be done to try and prevent the risk."

The court heard that Rogers was sentenced to nine years in jail for three offences of indecent assault on a female under the age of 14 in 1998.

He was released on licence in April 2004 but committed another offence in the stair well of a multi-storey car park in November of that year.

He was sentenced to 21 months in prison with a further 569 days from the previous sentence.

He was released on parole but his behaviour gave further cause for concern and he was returned to prison to serve the remainder of his sentence.

"The risk assessment is that you still represent a high risk of sexual harm to other people and that causes me serious concern," said Mr Ward.

"You must have caused serious harm to a number of people, in particular young women and children, and despite all the methods of dealing with you, you still present a risk.

"That is why you are still in prison and that is why a SOPO is entirely justified," he added.

The SOPO will prohibit Rogers from associating with any children under 16, contacting or seeking to contact any children under 16, allowing any children to enter his home, acting in a manner which will cause alarm, harassment or distress to any person leading them to fear sexual harm, entering or loitering outside any schools, public parks including theme parks and fun fairs, play areas or country parks and indecently exposing his person in a public place.

Mr Ward allowed an application by the police that Rogers' future address, when he is released from prison, should not be disclosed after Det Con Craig Blackwell said Rogers will be going to accommodation where there are other residents.