A potentially dangerous child sex offender has been jailed again after committing at least 11 breaches of his sexual offences prevention order in nine years.

Richard Ling, of London Road South, Lowestoft, was given another two-year prison term by Ipswich Crown Court after being jailed for two years last June.

The 62-year-old pleaded guilty to two breaches of his sexual offences prevention order (SOPO) when he appeared before the court for a preliminary hearing.

Both offences occurred on January 10 in Lowestoft.

He was found to be loitering outside a children’s play area and had communication with two girls under the age of 16.

Ling was prohibited from doing either of these things by a SOPO made by Chelmsford Magistrates Court on August 14, 2006.

Last June Ipswich Crown Court heard he also committed the two breaches of the order in January 2014 in Ipswich – less than three months after a judge spared him a jail sentence and gave him the chance to attend a treatment programme to address his sexual offending.

Jailing Ling, Judge Rupert Overbury said: “You are potentially dangerous to young children, particularly young girls. You pose a very high risk of further offences.”

The court heard Ling was seen touching his groin area over his clothing by two girls aged seven and 12 years old in a recreation ground near Westbourne High School, in Ipswich.

In March 2013 Ling was arrested after an incident when two children from Meadow Primary School in Lowestoft arrived home upset about a man outside the school.

In October 2013 he was sentenced to a three-year community order with a requirement to take part in a programme to address his sexual offending for that breach of his SOPO.

Ling’s previous convictions stretch back to 1972 when he was convicted of indecent exposure.

Ling did not offend again until 2004 when he committed gross indecency with a child.

In 2006 a sexual offences prevention order (SOPO) was made following a conviction for disorderly behaviour after he exposed himself to young children.

Ling breached it in 2007, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2013, and 2014.

In August 2007 Ling engaged in sexual activity in the presence of young children.

In August 2009 he was sentenced to six months’ imprisonment for breaching his SOPO which prohibited loitering near a public place.

In June 2010 he breached his SOPO on two occasions by hanging around a primary school.

Four further breaches occurred between September 2010 and December 2011.