A ROOKLEY paedophile has been ordered to undertake a thinking skills programme as part of an 18-month community order after failing to register with police as required.

David Mark Bradshaw, 65, of Dolcroft Road, appeared at the Isle of Wight Crown Court on Friday.

He admitted failing to comply with the notification requirement of his Sexual Harm Prevention Order, and being in breach of a suspended sentence.

Prosecutor, Philip Allman, told the court Bradshaw had been five days late in registering at the police station — something he is required to do annually.

He had been placed on the Sex Offenders' Register for ten years following a Crown Court appearance on March 6, 2020, for three counts of making indecent images of children after he was found in possession of almost 35,000 pictures.

Bradshaw had been caught after taking his laptop to a computer shop to be repaired, and staff discovered a hidden folder on his hard drive.

Oscar Vincent, defending, said Bradshaw had been at the vaccination clinic in Newport getting his first Covid jab when he received a call from police.

Bradshaw responded immediately and was at the police station 15 minutes later, telling them he had forgotten and apologising.

Mr Vincent said Bradshaw has a number of ongoing medical issues, including one which affects his memory, and another which affects his mental health.

He was told not to forget to register again next year, and to write it on his calendar.