A SEX offender formed a relationship and briefly lived with the mother of a young child, while using a false name, a court heard.

Christopher Bartley, using his mother’s maiden name of Higginson, did not inform her of his record, and she only found out after a tip-off by an ex-partner.

Durham Crown Court was told she confronted him and police were informed.

Phillip Morley, prosecuting, said Bartley served a five-year prison sentence, followed by five years of extended supervision, after being convicted of the rape of two children when he was aged 15.

But as he was subsequently in relationships with women with young children, police sought a Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO), which was granted in 2015, prohibiting him from having contact or supervision with any child under 16 without the consent of the parent or guardian and only with social services approval.

Bartley, 27, of Tweddle Avenue, Bowburn, admitted breaching the SHPO.

Vic Laffey, mitigating, said Bartley acknowledged a prison sentence is “inevitable”, but added that it was difficult for him to form any relationship once the other party becomes aware of his past.

Jailing him for 32 months, Judge Simon Hickey told Bartley it was “a serious breach” deceiving an innocent woman in the manner he did, earlier this year.