A CONVICTED paedophile is accused of repeatedly breaking the rules of a court order by trying to contact children.

Timothy Edmeades, 37, appeared at Basildon Magistrates Court charged with four counts of breaching a Sexual Offences Prevention Order.

He had been issued with the order in 2008 when he was jailed for 33 months after abusing his position as a Cub group leader by grooming and sexually assaulting two boys - aged nine and ten - on swimming trips.

The measure banned him from working or being along with children or owning a computer for ten years.

But he was arrested last September after he was spotted taking pictures of youngsters at an open day at the Maru Karate Kai event in Luncies Road, Pitsea.

The court heard other possible breaches took place while he did voluntary work for the Basildon Heritage Club, which, saw him attend a number of events at Wat Tyler Country Park as well as the karate club open day.

Edmeades, who used to live in West Road, South Ockendon, but has since moved to Bungay in Suffolk, is also accused of owning a laptop.

He is further alleged to have sent a Facebook friend request to a 13 year-old boy he met at an Olympic celebration in Wickford.

Magistrates do not have sentencing powers to deal with such offences, so Edmeades will be sent to Basildon Crown Court to enter a plea.

He is due to appear on June 20.