A SEX offender has appeared in court after he sold a Samsung tablet he was supposed to show police officers each time they attended his property.

Matthew Palmer has been on the sex offenders' register since 2012 but is now allowed to use any device capable of accessing the internet unless it has the capacity to show its history.

Under a sexual harm prevention order (SHPO), Palmer, of Old Rectory Drive, Colchester, must also make devices available to police officers upon request.

In November last year, however, Palmer was unable to produce his Samsung Galaxy tablet to police officers because he had sold the device without having provided it to the authorities for inspection beforehand.

Gazette: Register – Matthew Palmer has been on the sex offenders' register since 2012Register – Matthew Palmer has been on the sex offenders' register since 2012 (Image: Pexels)

On Tuesday, Palmer – a 38-year-old lorry driver – appeared before magistrates in Colchester where he admitted the offence.

His partner was sitting in the public gallery as the case was heard.

Palmer had told probation after the incident the situation was caused by “negligence” on his behalf and that he “didn’t really think” when he sold the device.

Kristina Smith, mitigating, argued the defendant had not breached the SHPO deliberately.

She said: “It was a minor breach, just shy of a reasonable excuse.

“He has been on the sex offenders’ register since 2012 and this is his first breach.”

The court also heard how Palmer had sold the Samsung tablet because he and his partner were short on cash.

Smith added: “He is a lorry driver full time, and he and his partner are planning on moving because their current landlord wants to sell the property.

“He has explained funds are tight which is why he sold the device in the first instance – it was to get some funds to assist him and his partner.”

Gazette: Adjourned – a sentence will be decided upon once a pre-sentence report has been preparedAdjourned – a sentence will be decided upon once a pre-sentence report has been prepared (Image: Public)

Chair of the bench Jacky Froggatt took a dim view of Palmer’s decision to sell the tablet without considering the requirements of his SHPO.

She said: “Is this because you weren’t thinking, or is it that were you aware of the breach you were on and should have been more vigilant?

“Our view is you should have been more vigilant.”

The case was adjourned for a pre-sentence report to be prepared.