A MAN with learning difficulties who breached a court order by having “inappropriate” contact with schoolgirls on a social networking site has been given a suspended sentence.

Brendan Clarke, 20, had his contact with children under 16 restricted by a sexual offences prevention order after he was convicted of offences including sexually assaulting a boy under the age of 13.

Robert Sadd, prosecuting at Ipswich Crown Court, said Clarke had breached the order by contacting four girls aged 14 and 13 who were pupils at a school near Stowmarket on Facebook.

“He had sexualised coversations with them that were of an inappropriate nature,” said Mr Sadd.

Clarke, of Fuchsia Lane, Ipswich, admitted four offences of breaching a sexual offences prevention order and was given eight months detention in a young offenders’ institution suspended for two years and placed under supervision for two years. He was also ordered to live at an address specified by the probation service and was made the subject of an indefinite sexual offences prevention order banning from having unsupervised contact, direct or indirect, with any child under 16 and not to use a computer except when looking for a job or doing coursework.

Claire Matthews for Clarke said her client had substantital learning difficulties and had a developmental age much younger than his 20 years which resulted in him being attracted to younger people because he found it easier to relate to them.