A convicted sex offender breached a sexual harm prevention order by deleting apps from his mobile.

Blackburn magistrates heard interrogation of the phone belonging to Callen Burgess also revealed indecent images of children.

Burgess, 34, of Greenway Street, Darwen, pleaded guilty to breach of a sexual harm prevention order, possession of five category A images of children, four category B images and 10 category C images.

He was committed on bail to Preston Crown Court to be sentenced on November 26.

District Judge Alexandra Preston said Burgess had committed almost identical offences to those which resulted in the sexual harm prevention order being made in March 2021.

She said that even with credit for a guilty plea it was still a category A sentencing bracket which meant a starting point of three years in prison.

“In my opinion, you haven’t been straight with the probation officer who prepared the pre-sentence report,” said District Judge Preston.

“You are in denial about your actions and you are a high-risk sex offender.”

Graeme Tindall, prosecuting, said it had been a deliberate and persistent breach of the SHPO, which was imposed for similar offences to try and prevent it happening again.

Police who visited the defendant discovered apps such as Snapchat, KIK and Bumble from his device which he should not have done under the terms of the order.

Examination of the device also found the images.

“The Crown would say it was a deliberate breach,” said Mr Tindall.

“He knew what he was doing and the degree of harm must be higher as a result.”

Graeme Parkinson, defending, said it was difficult to argue with categorisation of the offences when applying sentencing guidelines.