A PAEDOPHILE who failed to tell the mother of two young girls that he was on the sex offenders register before going on a camping trip with them has been given a suspended sentence at Swindon Magistrates Court.

Robert McKinley, of Brimble Hill, Wroughton, admitted that he swam naked in a lake at Ashton Keynes with one of the children, took off her bra in the water and gave her cider during the trip.

The children's mother, who he was in a relationship with, had taken some time to get to know him and thought he was good with children.

But McKinley had been a registered sex offender since 2009, when he was convicted of sexual activity with a child and sentenced to one year’s imprisonment.

In April last year they went camping at a site in Ashton Keynes but the trip meant the 52-year-old was in breach of the register’s requirements - that he notify his offender manager that he was staying somewhere with a person under the age of 18.

Keith Ballinger, prosecuting, said: “He breached the notification requirement by going on this trip, he did not notify his offender manager when he was going on a trip with children under the age of 16,” he said.

Richard Williams, defending, stressed McKinley faced one charge of failing to notify his offender manager about the trip.

“He accepts and acknowledges he placed himself in a very awkward and vulnerable position considering his background,” Mr Williams said.

“He can’t offer an attractive reason why he didn’t comply with the notification requirement. He drove his camper van to the site and met the women and her children there. He slept in the camper van and the two children slept in tents outside.

“He accepts that he acted inappropriately by not informing the offender manager.”

Chairman of the bench, Viv Street, said the breach was so serious that a custodial sentence had to be considered.

“We regard this matter as more serious than the previous bench. Today we are going to impose a suspended sentence order with regards to the breach with the young girl and drinking alcohol there will be a sentence of four weeks suspended for 18 months.

“You will also complete 40 rehabilitation activity requirement days, you will have a chance to do some therapy. If you breach this you can expect to serve the sentence in full. You will pay £85 court costs and a£115 victim surcharge.”

An NSPCC spokesman for South West England said: “Due to his previous conviction for sexual activity with a child, McKinley was a registered sex offender subject to a sex offenders order.

“This barred him from unsupervised contact with children, among other conditions, and his actions at Ashton Keynes represented a serious breach of that order. It is right that McKinley was brought to justice and faces the consequences of his actions.”

Any adult concerned about a child’s welfare can call the NSPCC’s helpline for free, 24/7, on 0808 800 5000.