Peter Browne, 54, appeared at Northampton Crown Court and was sentenced to nine months in jail – suspended for two years.

He will be subject to a two-year- supervision order.

Passing sentence, recorder Sam Mainds said: "During this supervision order you must do what the Probation Service requests you to do.

"They may request to you do a course or live elsewhere.

"If you fail to do that you will be back before the court and you will go to prison."

Browne, formerly of Miller Close, Kettering, had been in custody for 154 days.

He told the court he planned to live in Bournemouth.

Browne was arrested by county child protection unit officers for seeking the company of two 14-year-old boys and contacting them by text and phone.

Due to his previous convictions for sexual offences against children , Northamptonshire Police successfully applied in May last year to have him made the subject of a sexual offences prevention order.

The order banned Browne from unsupervised contact with anyone under 16.
Browne pleaded guilty in June to 18 breaches of the order by contacting or being in the company of two boys, who cannot be named for legal reasons, during a five-week period in March and April.