Pervert took on jobs at libraries

Kevin Lowe was convicted in 2009 of having more than 2,000 indecent images of children on computers at his home in Dudley.

He was given a 10-year sexual offenders protection order and banned from working with children. He was also ordered to undergo three years' supervision and was put on the sex offenders list for five years.

But Wolverhampton Crown Court heard yesterday that the 52-year-old managed to find work at various libraries in Birmingham between April and December last year.

Mr Mark Rees, prosecuting, said that when arrested and interviewed by police, Lowe accepted that the positions would have put him in contact with children.

But Mr Regan Peggs, defending, said: "There was never any possibility of him being alone with any children. Certainly for that reason there was no remand done.

"It would appear there was very little risk of any harm being done whatsoever. He didn't realise when he applied for the job in libraries that he was placing himself in such danger."

Mr Peggs added that Lowe, of Stourbridge Road, Dudley, had applied for the temporary library positions because of his 'bookishness', not to be near children.

The court also heard that Lowe, who lost his job at High Arcal School in Sedgley following his original conviction, told his arresting officers that he did not believe he had breached the order and that he had not deserved it.

Sentencing him, Judge Michael Challinor said Lowe had displayed 'breathtaking arrogance'.

He said: "You demonstrate breathtaking arrogance in your dealings with supervisors and others when breaching this order.

"I do not find here the deliberate targeting of young children. This is simply your arrogant demonstration of a determination not to be interfered with."

Lowe pleaded guilty at an earlier hearing to a single charge of breaking the terms of his sexual offenders protection order.

He was sentenced to nine months imprisonment suspended for 22 months and ordered to pay £250 costs.