A SEX offender who has been committing offences for more than a decade has been made subject to a three-year rehabilitation programme.

Kenneth William Elcock, 57, sexually assaulted a 20-year-old woman who had a tiny child with her at the time, and a 17-year-old girl.

Both attacks took place on Clifton Backies on June 12.

District judge Marie Mallon told Elcock: “The object is to make you stop this sort of behaviour permanently.The fact I am not sending you to prison doesn’t mean these are not serious offences. Any repetition - you are going to prison. Any breach of the order - you are going to prison.”

She gave him a three-year community order with a 35-session group sex offenders’ rehabilitation programme and 35 rehabilitation activity days.

Elcock, of Lucas Avenue, Clifton, pleaded guilty to two sexual assaults.

He was also made subject to a five-year sexual harm prevention order banning him from having any contact with the two latest victims, living or sleeping in the same house as any girl under 16 and forbids him having any contact with any girl under 16 unless closely supervised.

He must register as a sex offender for five years and pay £85 prosecution costs and an £85 statutory surcharge. His solicitor, Steve Munro, did not give any mitigation after the district judge announced she would make a community order.

In 2005, Elcock indecently exposed himself and performed a sexual act in front of a woman when out cycling. York Crown Court heard in 2006 how, as he awaited sentence for that offence, he behaved inappropriately towards a 21-year-old woman. He admitted a non-sexual assault and was jailed for four months. He was given a community order for the indecent exposure after being convicted by magistrates at trial.