Paedophile pensioner from Gosport thanks judge for sparing him jail after he's caught red-handed by police

Gosport pervert John McCormick, 70, appeared in the dock at Portsmouth Crown Court with a walking stick before admitting his latest offences.

McCormick had only been sentenced in April for arranging the commission of a child sex offence - with him handed a 24 month jail term suspended for 24 months.

As part of that sentence McCormick, of Normandy Gardens, was put on the sex offenders register and told to comply with requirements.

But the defendant quickly found himself falling foul of the order - despite a warning from police after a visit to his address.

On a subsequent visit to McCormick’s home on June 21, officers found he had still failed to register his username on social media platforms Snapchat and Tiktok to the force.

Another visit to the paedophile’s home on August 23 amid suspicions of indecent images of children being on a device - which forensics are still investigating - found him in breach of sexual harm prevention order after he had failed to notify having a new smartphone.

Judge, Recorder Richard Tutt, addressing the breaches, told McCormick: ‘When you were asked why you failed to notify (police of the usernames), you said they never asked for them. But it’s for you to notify them.

‘You claim you forget things and denied creating usernames - but confirmed you had used Snapchat and Tiktok.’

Speaking of the smartphone not declared to police, the judge said McCormick told officers: ‘I do not need to.’

The court heard the defendant had engaged well with probation and was a ‘medium risk of serious harm to children’.

McCormick had been on remand since August 26 following his arrest - serving the equivalent of a three-month sentence.

Recorder Tutt opted to fine McCormick £500 and add five rehabilitation days onto his current order. ‘I am just persuaded to give you a final chance. There can be do doubt that any further breaches will result in custody,’ he said.

After being told he was regaining his liberty, McCormick, who admitted two breaches of notification requirements, and a single count of breaching a sexual harm prevention order, said: ‘Thank you very much.’

The judge replied: ‘Be very careful.’