A SEX offender failed the requirement to register annually after misreading the date on a reminder sent to him by the police, a court heard.

Blackburn magistrates heard that Paul Stuart Bielby was four days late in complying with the requirement of being placed on the Sex Offender Register.

Bielby, 45, of Mowbray Avenue, Blackburn, pleaded guilty to failing to comply and was remanded on bail for the preparation of a pre-sentence report.

Catherine Allan, prose-cuting, said Bielby should have registered on May 23 as he had done the previous year but didn't turn up until the 27th.

"It will appear to be a simple breach, a matter of just a few days, but I would ask you to look at why these requirements are put in place in the first place," said Miss Allan.

She told the court Bielby had been convicted in March 2003 of 14 offences of making indecent photo-graphs of children and sentenced to a jail term. He had also been placed on the Sex Offender Register until 2013.

Andrew Church-Taylor, defending, said Bielby had looked at the reminder sent by the police and misread 23 as 28.

"It was a simple mistake and there was nothing sinister about his failure to register," said Mr Church-Taylor.

He said that throughout the order Bielby had co-operated fully with the police allowing them into his home and giving them unrestricted access to his computer.

"He has made an honest and genuine mistake," said Mr Church-Taylor.