A CUTTING from a newspaper led to a sex offender spending an extra four-and-a-half months behind bars in a North-East jail.

The picture story about child pole dancers from a national tabloid paper was found in Stephen Turner’s back pocket, during a cell search at Frankland Prison, Durham, last August.

Durham Crown Court heard that the 61-year-old long-term inmate, from Rotherham, South Yorkshire, was forbidden from possessing images of children, in any form, without their parents’ permission, as part of prohibitions imposed since he was jailed for inciting children to commit sexual acts, at Newcastle Crown Court, in 2003.

He was to have been released last October, but after the cutting was found he was charged with breaching the sex offender restrictions and remained in custody.

Turner, who denied the charge, said he was given the cutting by another inmate, but had not read it by the time of the search.

His barrister, Nick Cartmell, quoted from the newspaper story saying the picture of the girls dancing, with pixelated faces, was supplied with parental permission.

As Turner was not forbidden from having a freely available newspaper within the prison, he said it could not breach the restrictions.

Following Mr Cartmell’s submission, Judge Michael Cartlidge discharged the jury, ordering the court record to show a ‘not guilty’ verdict.

Mr Cartmell said his client would now be eligible for release, but before agreeing to discharge Turner, Judge Cartlidge ordered that the restrictions imposed on him should be amended.

As part of a renewed Sexual Offences Prevention Order, Turner is not allowed to have images of anyone under 16, unless he has the "express written permission" of the appropriate adult or guardian.