A PERVERT who tried to lure young children into his car from the streets of York is facing a long stretch in prison.

Michael James Anderson was released from prison earlier this year, partway through a jail term imposed for inciting young girls into sexual acts with him.

But although Anderson, 41, was under probation officer supervision, he was on the lookout for children again within months, and twice urged young girls to get in his car as he drove around Huntington.

The judge who presided over Anderson's trial at York Crown Court is so concerned about the threat he poses that he may decide to lock him up indefinitely.

But today, the mother of one of the two girls who became Anderson's latest targets criticised the system which allowed him to put her daughter at risk.

"Why was he let out in the first place?" she asked.

"And there should have been more supervision once he was out. He should have had a lot more. "Someone should have been more in control. He has put us through so much."

York Crown Court heard how both the children refused to get in the car, and a jury convicted Anderson on two charges of inciting children into sexual activity.

Jurors heard that one of the girls, aged eight, was walking back from a sweet shop with a group of other children on September 1 when Anderson drove past her and asked if she could get into his car to have sex. Minutes earlier, he had asked another girl, on a bicycle, the same question.

Anderson, of Willow Glade, Huntington, had denied both charges.

Following the convictions, Judge Peter Benson, worried about how dangerous he is to children, promised to lock him up for a very long time and ordered a psychiatric report into him.

Judge Benson said: "Clearly, this man's conduct gives rise to a great level of concern, if what I have been told about what is said in a psychological report about his ultimate motivation and the sort of fantasies he harbours are correct. A very substantial sentence is going to be required."

Anderson was automatically released after serving 18 months of an eight-year extended licence sentence which included three years in jail and five in the community under probation officer supervision. He was living with his parents on September 1. The new offences mean that he could now have to finish the eight years entirely behind bars.

The Home Office revoked Anderson's parole after his arrest on September 2 and he has been in prison ever since.

The judge is also considering whether he can give Anderson an indeterminate sentence, which would mean he could only be released if the Parole Board was satisfied he is no longer a menace to society.

Updated: 10:24 Tuesday, December 07, 2004