A SEX offender has been jailed for a year after failing to tell police he was in a relationship with a woman and regularly sleeping at her home.

The woman herself also had no idea Michael Eddy was a registered sex offender, Teesside Crown Court heard.

The 39-year-old defendant was required to notify police of any address that he stayed at for more than seven nights a year.

Prosecuting, Jenny Haigh said Eddy spent about five months in a relationship with the woman and would sleep at her home.

The deception came to light when a police officer supervising Eddy discovered intimate texts and pictures on his mobile phone.

It also emerged he had been accessing the social networking website Facebook – something he was not allowed to do.

Eddy, of Droitwich Avenue, Stockton, admitted three breaches of his conditions and an offence of theft.

Andrew Turton, mitigating, said Eddy had misunderstood the terms he was subject to. He also said there was nothing untoward in his use of Facebook.

Mr Turton said Eddy had planned to reveal his past to the woman. However, Judge Les Spittle said he did not believe Eddy's account and said he had “took a chance” on not being caught.

He jailed him for 12 months in total.