A CONVICTED sex offender is back behind bars after being caught with an undeclared laptop and spy-camera disguised as a torch.

David McKay's illicit haul of digital devices were discovered during a routine police inspection to ensure he was abiding by the terms of his sexual harm prevention order (SHPO).

The 68-year-old is banned from owning devices that can access the internet unless he registers them with the police after he was convicted in 2012 for possessing indecent images, voyeurism and stealing female underwear.

Two years ago he was jailed at Teesside Crown Court after he admitted three charges of making indecent images – totalling 54,008, possessing a paedophile manual, breaching the SHPO and failing to comply with the requirements of sex offender notification.

McKay was back at the same court where he was jailed for 24 weeks in custody as a result of the search of his home on Londonderry Road, Stockton, in March.

Dr Chris Wood, prosecuting, said McKay told officers he was 'too lazy' to register his new laptop, which was discovered hidden under his bed.

A further search of his property led to the discovery of the torch, computer hard drives and two iPods.

The defendant pleaded guilty to a single charge of breaching his SHPO in connection with the laptop.

Alex Bousfield, for McKay, said his client had pleaded guilty at the earliest opportunity.

Passing sentence, Judge Jonathan Carroll called for answers as to why the computer equipment had not been analysed to discover whether they contained any illegal content.

He said: "I find it remarkable to discover that at this point it is not known whether the police have examined those hard drives or have any intention to do so."