A convicted pervert has been slapped with a prison sentence after deceiving his girlfriend about his sordid past. 27 year old Gary Cookson did not disclose to his new partner that he had previously been found in possession of child abuse images and was convicted in 2023.

Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court heard how he was left alone with her two-and-a-half year old child. At one point, he even dried the toddler off and dressed them, leading the child to start calling him 'Dada'.

This behaviour put him in violation of a five-year Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO) and the notification requirements of the sex offenders' register. Now, Cookson, of Talke Road, Chesterton, has been handed a two-and-a-half-year prison sentence.

The court was informed that he failed to comply with the notification requirements between January 1, 2024, and February 12, 2024, when he began a new relationship. His next offence occurred on February 15, 2024, when he used apps from which he was prohibited.

His phone was confiscated, and Snapchat was discovered on the device. He neglected to report his username as required, reports Stoke on Trent Live.

Cookson then violated his notification requirements by failing to inform the police that he was residing in a house with a 17 year old child for 12 hours or more. He also deleted a TikTok message.

His final series of offences involved him failing to register a Snapchat username and breaching the SHPO by intentionally hiding a mobile phone.

Cookson admitted to two counts of breaching a Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO) and four counts of failing to comply with the notification requirements of the sex offenders' register.

Defending Cookson, Rashad Mohammed said: "He felt he was isolated. He went on to Snapchat. He activated an account. The matters spiralled out of control. He failed to stop to assess the consequences of his behaviour."

Mr Mohammed also noted that there was no evidence of actual harm, as Cookson's phone showed nothing concerning to authorities: "There is no evidence of any actual harm done. His phone was interrogated. There is no suggestion there was any material that would cause the authorities any concern."

Acknowledging Cookson's immaturity and lack of recognition of the court order's gravity, Mr Mohammed added: "At the time he showed a great deal of immaturity. He failed to properly recognise the seriousness of the court order. He does ask me to express to you his regret and his remorse.

"He has been in custody since October 24, the equivalent of just over 10 months. It has been a real eye-opener for him . It has been a wake-up call for him, the level of violence he has seen in person."

Mohammed added that Cookson is a father from a respectable family. Recorder Robert Smith highlighted Cookson's awareness of his prohibitions and his primary interest in young girls: "You knew full well what you were not allowed to do. Your primary sexual interest seems to be with female children. The risk of harm was extremely real and significant when you were drying off a naked two-and-a-half year old."

Smith condemned Cookson's persistent disregard for regulations and manipulation into a position of trust within a home with a young child: "You were extremely persistent in the way you flouted the regulations. You manipulated your way into a position of trust in a family home with an infant child.

"You need to learn a lesson. You need to learn to abide by the terms of the order or you will be sent to prison."

The judge issued a deprivation order for the confiscated devices.