HOME Secretary Jack Straw today welcomed a court ruling which threw out a paedophile's attempt to get a sex order removed.

Peter Lander Jones, 64, of Blackburn, had tried under the Human Rights Act to get the Sex Offender Order banning him from making contact with children scrapped.

But two judges at London's High Court threw out the appeal.

Blackburn MP Mr Straw said today: "I'm pleased to note the decision of the court which is consistent with other recent decisions of the courts.

"It shows that the Human Rights Act balances the needs and rights of individuals with those of the public."

Jones had the order imposed after approaching a young boy in Springfield Park, Rochdale.

A month earlier he had been convicted of indecently assaulting a 13-year-old boy and placed on probation.

The order barred him from public parks, playgrounds and swimming pools throughout England and Wales and from "enticing, approaching or communicating with" any person under the age of 16.

Lawyers for Jones argued the admissions of evidence tending to show his "propensity" to commit sex crimes breached Article Six and Article Eight of the European Convention on Human Rights which enshrine the rights to privacy and a fair hearing by an impartial tribunal.