A PSYCHOPATHIC sex fiend who objected to wearing a GPS tag has failed in his legal bid to have it removed.

'Manipulative' Paul Richards, from Middlesbrough, has a list of 12 sex convictions going back more than 30 years - including offences of kidnapping, dishonesty, harassment and drugs possession.

The 48-year-old has been diagnosed with an anti-social and narcissistic personality disorder and "severe psycopathy", London's Appeal Court heard.

Cleveland Police decided that forcing him to wear a tag whenever he leaves his home was the only way of protecting women, particularly prostitutes.

Richards, now in custody for breaching a sexual offences prevention order (SOPO), argued the tag was a breach of his human rights.

However, Lord Justice Beatson ruled that forcing him to wear a tag was "in accordance with the law" and justified.

The judge, sitting with the Master of the Rolls, Lord Dyson, and Lord Justice Fulford, said Richards posed a "high risk of sexual recidivism".

He added: "The medical evidence also indicated that he manifests high levels of deceit and manipulation and shows minimal empathy or remorse for his offending."

The court heard Richards has been subject to close police monitoring since his first sex conviction in 1983.

And he is subject to restraining orders to protect three specific women who have suffered harassment or violence at his hands.

Police said there was only so much they could do to keep tabs on him and a tag was needed to ensure he does not stray into 'red light' districts.

Richards was arrested in September 2012 - a month after Teesside Magistrates ordered him to wear a tag - after he was detected in an area frequented by prostitutes.

He was jailed for three breaches of his SOPO in November 2013 and remains in custody.

His barrister, Hugh Southey QC, argued the magistrates had no power to order him to wear a tag and the device breached his fundamental right to privacy.

But Lord Justice Beatson pointed out that Richards had at first volunteered to wear a tag, before changing his mind.

Although the magistrates had no specific statutory power to make him wear a tag, the judge ruled the requirement was "in accordance with the law".

His tagging would be kept under regular review and was 'proportionate' to the extreme risk to women he posed, he concluded.

Welcoming the decision, Temporary Deputy Chief Constable Simon Nickless said: “Cleveland Police was the first force in the country to apply for a prohibition under the Sexual Offences Prevention Order which in effect placed a requirement on the offender to wear a GPS location monitoring if he left his home address.

“The monitoring of very high risk sex offenders is a complex undertaking and this tool helps to manage the risk posed by such offenders."