A TEENAGE sex offender who was spared jail by a judge was questioned by police after allegations of a sex attack last year, The Northern Echo can reveal.

Ian Pritchard was given a five-year sexual offences prevention order at Teesside Crown Court earlier this month after admitting sexual activity with a 15-year-old and making an indecent movie with her.

Pritchard, 18, of Middleton St George, near Darlington, has already been subject to two restraining orders issued by the courts to protect young females prior to his latest offences.

One remains in force.

Meanwhile, The Northern Echo has also learnt of an incident in June last year in which the teenager, who drives a car, was investigated over an attack on another 15-year-old girl.

Pritchard was accused of pinning the girl down and biting her.

Durham Police would not comment further on Pritchard’s case, but did confirm it had investigated an incident in June, last year.

A spokesman said: “A man was arrested after an allegation of sexual assault was made.”

While a statement was taken from the girl by police, no further action was taken.

The girl’s mother hit out at the sentence given to Pritchard.

She said: “It is a disgrace, he should have been locked up.”

Pritchard has been monitored by police, who feared he had abducted the girl with whom he admitted sexual activity.

She also committed a sex act on him, which was filmed on a mobile phone.

Pritchard had booked a room for her at a Darlington hotel, although he did not stay.

The now retired Recorder of Middlesbrough, Judge Peter Fox, told the teenager in earlier court hearings to expect a substantial prison sentence.

However Judge Peter Armstrong, who sentenced him, took into account the length of time he had already spent in custody and said were he to jail him he would be freed on licence without supervision or his behaviour being monitored.

The judge agreed that the sexual activity had been consensual, but added: “Young girls like this sometimes need to be protected from themselves.”

Pritchard’s sexual offences prevention order means he is forbidden from having unsupervised contact with any female aged under 16.

His details will also remain on the sex offenders register for the next five years.