AN INQUIRY has been launched after a convicted sex offender spent four months as a driver for special needs children.

Philip John King lied his way into a variety of jobs driving taxis and buses in Hyndburn, despite the sex offences and a string of driving convictions.

Hyndburn Borough Council, responsible for the licensing of all private hire and Hackney carriage drivers in the borough, today said there would be an investigation into the case while MP Greg Pope described it as "outrageous".

Lancashire County Council's education department, which is in charge of contracts involving children, said they had reprimanded one of the firms involved -- CB Radio Cars in Accrington.

King, 48, of Shuttle Close, Accrington, pleaded guilty before Blackburn Magistrates to three charges of obtaining a pecuniary advantage -- paid employment by deception -- and two of driving while disqualified.

The court was told two of those included not declaring his previous sex offences on application forms. He was committed on bail to Preston Crown Court for sentence after the magistrates decided that their powers were insufficient.

Clare Fanning, prosecuting, said King went for a job interview with CB Radio Cars and while terms were being negotiated he failed to mention his previous convictions.

The proprietor, a Mr Akhtar, asked to see his licence for insurance purposes but King said he had sent it away, she said.

Ms Fanning said: "He started work there in November and his duties were principally driving school children with special needs around the Great Harwood area.

"In March Mr Akhtar received an anonymous phone call and as a result of that he questioned King but he reiterated that he had a driving licence."

The police were eventually informed and King was charged but while he was on bail he applied for a job with M and M Coaches, of Newark Street, Accrington.

He had an interview and incorrectly filled out an application form, stating that he had no previous convictions. He provided a licence number and again said his licence was at Swansea.

Ms Fanning said King repeated the process when he got a job as a valeter at Nightingales garage in Great Harwood.

Ms Fanning said: "He told police he would not give details of his previous offences, particularly the sexual offences, because no one would employ him."

Ms Fanning said King had 20 previous convictions for driving while disqualified and previous convictions for obtaining a pecuniary advantage.

John Dickinson, defending, said: "He is a man who wants to work and he has committed these offences in the process of getting employment. There is no suggestion that any individual has suffered as a result of him obtaining employment."

After the case Peter Henderson, licensing officer with Hyndburn Borough Council, said he would be contacting the companies who employed King to demand to know what had happened.

He said the onus on registering new drivers was with employers, who pass details onto the council. Their details are then checked by the council with the Criminal Records Bureau and the DVLA.

MP Greg Pope said: "This is outrageous and I hope Preston Crown Court throws the book at him in view of his record for sex and driving convictions. People have been put at risk."

"The bodies responsible for licensing the companies should be asking searching questions."

A spokesman for Lancashire County Council said: "Disciplinary action was taken against the company, which was informed it was in breach of contract, and the authorities were informed of this matter.

"The company was told that if a similar incident did occur, the contract would be terminated."

Stephen Hooper, director of Nightingales, Whalley Road, Great Harwood, said King only valeted the company's cars and never actually drove for them.

He said: "We don't let anybody drive unless they produce their licences."

The owners of CB Radio Cars and M and M Coaches declined to comment.