A SEX offender has been ordered not to make sexual comments towards women after harassing a teenage girl.
Jonathan O’Hare made obscene comments to the 13-year-old as he followed her through Cleckheaton town centre.
He yesterday escaped jail but was slapped with an indefinite sexual offences prevention order by District Judge Marie Mallon.
O’Hare is a registered sex offender, having been jailed in 2002 for three sexual assaults.
He was recently released from prison after serving time for an affray and given accommodation in a Cleckheaton hostel.
He harassed the schoolgirl on April 14 just days after his release.
Linda Fowler, prosecuting, told the Huddersfield court that on that date the girl was in the town with another female friend and two boys.
He followed them and made obscene comments to the girl.
The prosecutor said that O’Hare sat next to the group at the bus station and made a further obscene comment towards the girl.
Mrs Fowler said: “She was shaking and didn’t know what to do.
“The group ran into a shop and told a member of staff what happened.”
Paul Blanchard, defending, said that O’Hare suffers from a personality disorder and that while his behaviour was “wholly inappropriate” there was no physical contact with the victim.
Judge Mallon gave O’Hare a community order for three years, which includes participation in a sex offending programme.
