A CONVICTED sex offender from Herefordshire, who used to be a football photographer, has been back in court after he tried to communicate sexually with children.

Matthew Cale, 36, from Ledbury tried to engage in sexual communication with two children, which were really online decoys.

He appeared in court again on November 29 for an application to vary a sexual harm prevention order which has been made on October 18. The order was changed by magistrates from three years to five years.

It prevents Cale from accessing the internet unless he first notifies a police officer.

The offences took place between December 17, 2022 and February 17, 2023, and Cale had pleaded guilty.

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At the sentencing, prosecutor Mark Hambling said: "He communicated with two groups and they made their concerns known to the police.

"There was a search warrant at his home address and some devices were seized. They were examined and he had been in contact with two decoy accounts."

In defence, Chris Reid said: "He accepts that there is a suggestion that it is not an adult. He has pleaded guilty at the first opportunity and he is engaging with a specialist agency."

As well as the order, Cale had to pay court costs of £185 and a victim surcharge of £114.