THREE convicted sex offenders whose behaviour alarmed public protection officers have been placed under tighter legal controls.

The men, at least two of whom are paedophiles, are now subject to sexual offences prevention orders (SOPOs) granted by Ipswich magistrates.

One of the trio – who live in Ipswich, but whose cases are not linked – was described as being considered a ‘very high risk’.

The application stated the 56-year-old displayed distorted thinking about women as sexual objects used for his own gratification. This involved leading a double life, signifying his likelihood to re-offend.

The man had replied to a magazine advert from a 16-year-old girl, and applied to Dateline to contact women.

The police’s SOPO application stated he had fantasised about raping a female prison officer.

A mobile phone he bought showed he had responded to personal ads and it was used to place his own.

He had also contacted massage parlours, divorced/separated and singles clubs.

The 56-year-old was recalled to prison in 2004 and released in 2006. He was evicted from where he was staying after making inappropriate comments to a female.

In 2009 he was given a restraining order for indecent calls to a woman at her workplace.

In 2012 he was arrested for making obscene phone calls, and his mobile phone linked him to dating sites. The 56-year-old was described as exhibiting “escalating sexual behaviour”.

The second case involved a 47-year-old paedophile who was found in a parked van with a 15-year-old girl in Church Lane, Sproughton.

Enquiries showed there had been regular contact with the girl including 100 texts and calls over a three-month period. He was also found to be in contact with a14-year-old girl.

The third case involved a 56-year-old paedophile who officers say is difficult to work with and consorted with two other registered sex offenders.

He and another offender established a friendship with a woman who had an infant son. The 56-year-old lent the woman £900, and he and the other man also helped her move house.

The woman was unaware of the 56-year-old’s previous convictions.

The man also became friendly with another woman who had two young children, giving her a teddy bear and children’s DVDs.