A 76-year-old sex offender from Oldham breached his restraining order to allow boys to smoke cannabis and cigarettes in his flat, a court has heard.

Derek Clayton of Unsworth Way, Oldham, was handed a two-year suspended sentence at Minshull Street Crown Court on Monday, September 12, for 12 offences that breached a restraining order imposed on him in 2002.

Prosecutor Niamh McGinty told the court that over a period of two weeks from May 14 to May 29, Clayton had three boys under the age of 18 in his flat, including one that was just 12, and permitted them to smoke cannabis and cigarettes.

The police were alerted, and Clayton was arrested by GMP’s Oldham Complex Safeguarding Team and charged with 12 breaches of his restraining order on July 15.

Addressing Clayton, Judge Mark Savill said: “You are 76 years of age and to be sentenced by me for 12 offences that breached a restraining order imposed on you in 2002.

“Over a lengthy period of time from the 70s, 80s, 90s and culminating in 2002, you were convicted of a number of sexual offences against young males.

"In 2002 you were made the subject of a restraining order indefinitely to which you have fell foul of and are to be sentenced for today.”

Judge Savill went on to say that the order placed on Clayton was intended to prevent “high risk” situations and "temptation getting the better of him" and deemed Clayton’s most recent offence “serious” due to his history of previous sexual offending and “very bad record”.

In mitigation, defence barrister Robert Stewart called for Judge Savill to consider Clayton’s age, mobility, and ill health when imposing a sentence.

Judge Savill acknowledged the points in mitigation and noted that Clayton had not committed any sexual offences for at least 20 years.

Clayton was handed a suspended sentence of two years, an indefinite restraining order and ordered to do complete a 30-day rehabilitation requirement and 31 days of the Horizon programme.

Judge Savill added that had there been any suggestion of sexual offending Clayton would have immediately gone into custody and that if Clayton breached the order, he would be sent to prison for two years.