Sex offender hid phone under his pillow when police visited

Kevin Robert Golden, 57, pleaded guilty to breaching a sexual harm prevention order at South Tyneside Magistrates’ Court.

Golden, of Hertburn Gardens, Washington, had been placed on a 10-year sexual harm prevention order in 2016.

Kirstie Devine, prosecuting, said: “One of the conditions was not to have any device and if he does then offer it up for inspection.”

She said in November 2019 he was visited by police who asked him if he had any devices to connect to the internet. He said he hadn’t.

However, the officers found a mobile phone under his pillow.

Ms Devine said: “He said it was for looking for jobs. He also admitted he would have been tempted to use the websites he had been before.”

The case was committed to Newcastle Crown Court for sentencing on April 16 and Golden was given unconditional bail.