A SERIAL paedophile has been jailed to protect the public after having sex with a 14-year-old while on licence for an earlier child sex conviction.

Andrew White took advantage of the teenager’s desperation to find a boyfriend after the pair met through another 14-year-old girl White befriended in The Maypole pub in Old Norwich Road, Ipswich.

At the time the 26-year-old was prevented from unsupervised contract with children after the imposition of a sexual offences prevention order (SOPO) by Luton Crown Court in 2010.

Sentencing White at Ipswich Crown Court, Judge David Goodin told him: “You are in my judgment a danger to young girls in their teens

“I believe you represent a significant risk of serious harm to such young girls by commission of similar offences of this nature. You allowed yourself to be placed in situations of temptations to you, where you were going to be unable to control yourself and your urges towards young under-age girls.”

Prosecutor Robert Sadd said White was living at approved premises in Old Norwich Road after being released on licence from prison in January.

After meeting his victim through her friend, White and the teenager had sex on three different occasions.

Mr Sadd said: “As she put it, she felt special with the attention shown to her.” The court was told the authorities became aware of what was going on when the girl rang up asking to speak to White.

Prior to his sentencing, White, of Harlow, had admitted three counts of engaging in penetrative sexual activity with a girl aged 13-15 between April 19 and May 16.

He also pleaded guilty to two offences of breaching his SOPO by speaking to the victim and her friend. He was sentenced to imprisonment for public protection with a minimum term of at least two years. When released he will be on licence for ten years and will have to sign the sex offenders’ register for an indefinite period.

A fourth offence of engaging in penetrative sex with a child was left to lie on file.

White had previously been given a three-year community order on March 16, 2009, for committing a sex act while drunk in front of a 14-year-old girl.

On March 5, 2010, at Luton Crown Court White was jailed for engaging in sexual activity with a 15-year-old girl. He also has convictions for dishonesty, criminal damage, burglary, theft, driving offences, and breaching a suspended sentence.