A convicted sex offender is back behind bars after he was caught logging on social media using an alias despite being banned from messaging underage people.

David Smith was caught using the name Slavedave57 on the 'Kik' and 'Whickr Me' social media platforms as well as deleting a series of messages when police carried a routine check at his home.

Teesside Crown Court heard how the 59-year-old was jailed in December 2021 for child sex offences and he was recalled to custody following the police search of his digital devices last month.

The pervert was still on licence when he was found to have downloaded that apps onto his mobile phone and breaching his court orders.

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Smith, of Hartington Road, Stockton, pleaded guilty to breaching the condition of his sexual harm prevention order and of his notification requirements on October 6 this year after he failed to register his alias with the police.

Kelly Clarks, mitigating, said her client had pleaded guilty at the earliest opportunity and confirmed that he would not be released from his previous sentence until December 2024.

Judge Chris Smith 59-year-old’s behaviour as ‘entrenched’ as he sentenced him to 12 months in custody.

He added: “You had the good sense to acknowledge what you had done by entering guilty pleas at magistrates’ court.”