A SEX offender banned from mixing unsupervised with children was found living with a girl aged 15, Burnley Crown Court heard.

Gary Kimm, 25, had been put on probation for two years in August 1998, after indecently assaulting a six year old girl in Colne.

Under the order, he was not allowed to have contact with youngsters without the approval of his supervising officer, had to live where directed and approved by the service and attend a sex offenders' group.

Kimm, recently living in Blackpool, was committed for sentence to the Crown Court after earlier appearing before magistrates in the town for breach of probation.

Judge Raymond Bennett adjourned the case until April 21 and sent him to live at a bail hostel in Liverpool. He said he had not liked the sound of the defendant's accommodation arrangements, as it did not seem as if he had anywhere to live.

Roger Baldwin, prosecuting for the probation service, said up until last September, Kimm had complied with all the conditions of the order, but at the beginning of November, it was reported to the social services that a 15-year-old girl was living at the defendant's address with him. Kimm was found to be furtive about the fact the girl was living at the property.

It was found Kimm and the girl had never had a sexual relationship. She was now 16 and was considered to be assertive enough to avoid any situation she was uncomfortable with. The probation service had been anxious about the girl, but, since then, their minds had been put at rest.

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