A SEX offender could face a jail term after failing to do his community service.

Mark Bates, 32, was originally jailed in May, 2001 after he admitted having sex with a 13-year-old girl.

As well as a ten-month jail term, which he served, Bates was also ordered to register as a sex offender for seven years.

But, after failing to register, he was ordered to do 120 hours community service.

Now, Bates, of Hornbeam Court, faces a jail term because of continually missing his community service in spite of appearing before the courts twice last year. He was fined £75 in August last year after a court heard that he completed less than a quarter of the hours imposed.

He was originally given the community service order in January that year after he failed to let police know where he was living for the sexual offenders register.

But, in spite of saying last August that he wanted to complete the community service order, he failed to carry out any more, citing a bad back and depression as excuses.

This led to this week's court appearance where it was said that he could face a maximum five years in jail.

But Recorder Richard McGrane wanted to wait for probation reports before he could impose a sentence.

At the latest hearing, prosecutor Philip Warren said that it was in the court's hands whether he should face a new sentence for the original offence. Ian Halliday, defending, said that his client had left the court in the summer with every intention of completing the order.

But after his new girlfriend and others found out about his past he said Bates fell into a state of depression, which he said was still in.

He said that his client had been to see his GP and was waiting to be referred to a hospital psychiatrist. As well as not being able to carry out the community service he said his client was also signed off work with the condition.

Mr Halliday said the court should be reluctant to impose a jail term because he could not continue the order for medical reasons.

The case was adjourned for a pre-sentence report and for medical notes to be presented to the Crown Court. Bates was released on bail.