A CONVICTED paedophile has launch-ed a legal challenge against a police bid to keep a tighter rein on his activities - including a ban on associating with children under 16.

Former engineering firm boss Robert Enright, 51, from Brierfield, was made subject to a sexual offences prevention order last August by Burnley magistrates.

He was ordered by magistrates not to invite any person aged under 16 into his residence or place of work.

Enright, formerly of Roselands Aven-ue, must not directly, or via a third party, associate with anyone under 16, except for a legitimate purpose. He must not contact, either by writing, telephone, or e-mail, anyone under 16 and is banned from educational establishments.

But he has appealed against the terms of the order, brought by Lancashire Police's public protection unit, at Preston Crown Court.

Enright admitted one charge of indecent assault and 11 charges of taking indecent photos of children, along with one charge of making an indecent image of a minor.

He was jailed in October 2002 after a court heard how he had lured underage girls to a beauty spot in Barrowford and taken indecent photos.

The indecent assault occurred when he wrapped his arms around the body of a naked girl, after rubbing oil on her body, the court was told.

Lee Nowland, representing Lancashire Police, told the appeal hearing about a number of incidents involving Enright which caused concerns to neighbours, school officials and social services, over the last few years.

Enright had been accused of loitering near the former Mansfield High, Brierf-ield, and of engaging in conversations with young girls from the school, according to complaints from staff.

Social services expressed concerns over his involvement with Nicola Harris, a teenager who ran away from a children's home and was later discovered at Enright's home.

Giving evidence, Enright said Miss Harris regarded himself and his late partner Glenys Myers, as mother and father figures after she had endured a troubled upbringing. He said he could not recall the complaints relating to Mansfield High, which dated back to 2003 and 2004. But it was possible he could have been talking to Nicola and her friends at the time.

Enright insisted that when he formed new relationships he made clear that he was on the sex offenders register and that he could not associate with children. Any contact with Nicola Harris, he said, had usually been in the presence of his partner Glenys, a qualified teacher, before her death in December 2003.

The hearing was adjourned until Thursday.